Stanford admits AI was used to 'race-swap' student in promotional photo

Stanford University has confirmed that artificial intelligence was used to alter a photograph of students for promotional materials — replacing one student with an AI-generated person and retouching two others — in violation of its own AI policy.

The Stanford Review, an independent student publication, published side-by-side images on Monday showing a “Welcome Home” banner produced for Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises. The original photograph, taken in 2024, showed three students together; in the banner version, student Billy Ramirez, of the class of 2027 and described as Hispanic, had been replaced by an AI-generated Black woman, and the two remaining students had been made to appear thinner.

Ramirez told the Review he initially found the alteration funny, but on reflection disagreed with how the university had represented the students. “Seeing my identity changed and being left out of the picture made me feel, in a way, silenced and erased from a representation that was supposed to include me,” he said.

Charlene Gage, Stanford’s director of university public relations, said the university had reviewed the matter and confirmed AI had been used to alter the image in violation of policy. “Stanford’s AI policy is clear: The use of AI in producing or altering images of Stanford people, events, research, facilities, or achievements is strictly prohibited,” Gage said. “Both the alteration and lack of disclosure in this case violate that policy.”

The banners have been taken down, and Stanford said it is working with Residential and Dining Enterprises to provide additional training and ensure proper review of all materials.

Sources

• The College Fix: Stanford violated its AI policy by changing Hispanic man into black woman in promo banner — https://www.thecollegefix.com/stanford-violated-its-ai-policy-by-changing-hispanic-man-into-black-woman-in-promo-banner/
• The Times of India: Stanford AI row — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/stanford-ai-row-students-outraged-as-university-uses-ai-to-alter-hispanic-student-with-black-student-in-promotional-ad/articleshow/134466884.cms
• themomentng: Stanford Removes AI-Altered Banners — https://themomentng.com/2026/09/24/stanford-removes-ai-altered-banners-after-student-was-replaced-in-promotional-photo/