Stanford University sparks fury among students after posting stupid marching band image

Stanford University has been embroiled in another AI image controversy after it was forced to remove an image of an all-white, all-male marching band from its website following an outcry from students.The AI-generated picture, published on the prestigious US university’s Campus Center construction website, showed a band dressed in red blazers, white shirts and fedoras performing on the campus’ White Plaza.Members of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band told The Stanford Daily they were shocked to find the AI-generated image on the university’s website.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Drum major Jose Serrano called the decision “pretty stupid.” “If you’re going to use AI, make an AI thing for your building, but don’t put people on it,” he said.Band conductor and executive officer Sadie Taylor said the depiction was particularly frustrating, given the organization’s efforts to attract a diverse membership.“We work pretty hard to champion diversity within the organization and try and encourage women and students of color to join,” she said.“So to see the University sort of undo all of that, it’s pretty frustrating.”Taylor and fellow band leaders formally complained to the Campus Center team on Monday, pointing out that authentic photographs of the band were already available.“We welcome you to use one of those, instead of falsifying an all-white, all-male, AI slop version of the Band,” they wrote.The university replaced the image with another architectural rendering shortly afterward.Taylor said the university had not informed the band before publishing the image, while Serrano questioned the use of AI to generate figures resembling real students without their knowledge.“Our likenesses are being put into this AI ...