Stanford University has removed campus banners featuring an AI-altered photograph of three students after acknowledging that the changes violated its artificial intelligence policy.
The photograph was originally taken at a Stanford dining hall and later used by the university’s Residential and Dining Enterprises department on promotional banners around campus, according to the San Francisco Chronicle and Stanford officials.
The altered version replaced student Billy Ramirez, who is Latino, with an AI-generated Black woman. The two other students remained in the image, but their appearances were also modified. Reports said the changes made them appear slimmer and altered their facial features.
Ramirez told The Stanford Review that he initially found the alteration amusing but later became upset about being removed from an image intended to represent Stanford students.
Read: 17 Indian Americans in Forbes 2026 America’s Top Lawyers list (September 18, 2026)
The Stanford Standard reported that the original photograph was taken during a Lunar New Year event at Wilbur Dining Hall during Ramirez’s freshman year.
“I was also upset because I don’t agree with Stanford making those choices about how we were represented,” Ramirez told the publication.
The altered image drew attention after students circulated comparisons between the original and edited versions.
Stanford freshman Kavinder Patel criticized the use of AI to change the people represented in the photograph, while freshman Jacob Peizner said the image spread among students and people outside the university.
Stanford sophomore Viriana Estrada also questioned why the photograph needed to be changed when photographs of students were already available.
The university later confirmed that AI had been used to alter the photograph and said both the alteration and failure to disclose the use of AI violated its policy.
Read: Viral video claims Indian American clients mistreat Mexican cleaners; actress Kasthuri Shankar weighs in (September 22, 2026)
“We have reviewed the matter and confirmed that AI was used to alter the image in violation of university policy,” Stanford said in a statement. “The banners with the image in question have been removed.”
Stanford’s statement said its AI policy prohibits using AI to produce or alter images of Stanford people, events, research, facilities or achievements.
The university also said it is providing additional training to staff and working to ensure materials receive proper review.
“As to the student who was removed from the photo I don’t that student has any recourse but the students whose body shape and faces were changed if I were those student I would be thinking what was the consent that I actually gave and do I feel like I harmed by the way I was depicted in those photographs,” Zachary Henderson, assistant professor of law at SMU Dedman School of Law said.
The university’s removal of the banners follows criticism from students over the use of AI to change the identities and appearances of people in the photograph.
Stanford has not publicly provided further details about who made the alterations or why the image was changed.