Stanford AI-Altered Photo Replaces Hispanic Male Student with Black Female Student
According to The Stanford Review, Stanford University utilized AI technology to modify a school photo, substituting Hispanic male student Billy Ramirez with a Black female student. Ramirez shared his feelings of confusion and distress, stating he felt "silenced and erased." The original image, captured during a Lunar New Year celebration in 2025, depicted three students enjoying plates of noodles. The edited version was released by Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises, responsible for student housing. Ramirez expressed surprise that the photo had resurfaced and noted that the university had not reached out to him. Stanford admitted that the use of AI contravened its policy on image alterations and is taking steps to ensure proper oversight. A similar incident took place in 2000 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Key facts
- Stanford University used AI to replace a Hispanic male student with a Black female student in a school photograph.
- Billy Ramirez was the student removed from the image.
- The Stanford Review, an independent student newspaper, broke the story.
- The original photo was taken by a Stanford photographer at a Lunar New Year party in 2025.
- The AI-edited image was recently posted by Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises.
- Stanford acknowledged the AI use and said its policy strictly prohibits altering images of Stanford people, events, research, facilities or achievements.
- The university said the alteration and lack of disclosure violate its policy and that it is providing additional training and ensuring proper review.
- In 2000, the University of Wisconsin-Madison edited out a white student for a Black student on its undergraduate application booklet cover, requiring 100,000 brochures to be reprinted.
Entities
Artists
- Billy Ramirez
Institutions
- Stanford University
- The Stanford Review
- Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises
- The New York Times
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Locations
- Stanford
- United States
- Wisconsin-Madison