When AI-Generated Identities Are More "Acceptable" Than Reality - Who Pays the Price?

I came across an article that highlights a fascinating yet troubling reality: an employee was asked to pay for a professional corporate profile photo but instead used an AI-generated image. The result? The boss praised the image, unknowingly approving an artificial, digitally altered version over the real person. The boss even praised the employee's commitment to excellence".

Here is the full article: https://cheezburger.com/38809093/boss-demands-employee-pay-for-professional-corporate-profile-picture-employee-uses-a-fake-picture-of

This story couldn’t have come at a better time. As part of the LISA - Stanford GSB LEAD Incubator & Startup Accelerator , I’ve been exploring real-world use cases for Digital Colorism —and this is a perfect example.

In this case, the employee was fortunate—the AI-generated image was acceptable to their boss. But that’s not always the case. Many people find their AI-generated avatars altered beyond recognition—skin tones lightened, facial features Eurocentricized, body proportions changed, or age representation distorted.

What does it mean when an AI-generated version of you is considered more acceptable than your real self? Who gets to define what “professional” looks like in the digital world? What happens when AI-generated identities are deemed more ‘professional’ than reality? Who gets erased, and what does that mean for inclusivity in digital and corporate spaces?

This is why responsible AI development matters. We need better quality control, fairness assessments, and transparency throughout the AI lifecycle—ensuring everyone is represented accurately and authentically in digital spaces, whether for self-representation or professional branding.

Let’s build a future where technology amplifies authenticity, not erases it.

I am building Digital Colorism , a platform that not only detects bias but also helps companies fix it. Join me in the mission to eradicate biases in AI once and for all.

#DigitalColorism #AI #ResponsibleAI #BiasInAI #InclusiveAI # DigitalHumans #StanfordGSB