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AI Erases Scars and Birthmarks, Sparking Outrage
29 Oct
Summary
- AI tools like Grok, Gemini, and ChatGPT alter images, removing personal features.
- Individuals with visible differences report feeling violated and misrepresented by AI.
- Campaigners and charities call for greater inclusivity and ethical AI development.
Artificial intelligence tools are altering personal features in images, causing distress to individuals with scars, birthmarks, and medical conditions. A BBC Wales investigation revealed that AI systems, including Elon Musk's Grok, Google's Gemini, and OpenAI's ChatGPT, remove visible differences when prompted to make a person appear 'normal.' This editing does not affect clothing, hair, or background elements in the photos.
Rhiannon Morgan, who has a rare skin condition, described an AI-edited image for her work newsletter as a 'jarring moment,' feeling it erased her identity and the challenges she has overcome. Campaigner Katie Piper also questioned AI's right to define 'normal' after her face was altered by Grok when asked to 'fix her face.'
While some AI tools, like Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5, refused such prompts citing identity changes, others continued to edit. Experts suggest AI models reference existing data, potentially perpetuating narrow beauty standards. Companies like Google and OpenAI acknowledge the need to reduce bias and improve their models' responses to diversity.
