Stanford Accused of Using AI to Alter Students’ Race and Gender in Advertising

Stanford University’s Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) used artificial intelligence to modify a student’s appearance in promotional advertising, including replacing him with an AI-generated Black woman, according to a report published by The Stanford Review.

The case involves an image originally taken by a Stanford university photographer. Stanford student Billy Ramirez discovered that he had been removed from the image after a friend sent him a comparison showing the original photograph alongside the altered version, The Stanford Review reported on Sept. 21.

The account was highlighted by Coin Bureau in a post on X, which said the university’s advertising also used AI to alter other students in the image, including making them appear visibly thinner.

Student Says AI Changes Left Him Feeling Erased

Ramirez, identified by The Stanford Review as a Stanford student, said he was “baffled” when he realized how extensively the photograph had been changed.

According to The Stanford Review, Ramirez initially found the alteration surprising because the AI-generated version changed his race and gender while removing him from the original composition. He later said he was upset by the way the image had been used to represent students.

“Seeing my identity changed and being left out of the picture made me feel silenced and erased,” Ramirez said, according to The Stanford Review.

The changes reportedly extended beyond Ramirez. The Stanford Review said two students positioned to his right were also digitally altered to appear noticeably thinner. The publication presented comparisons between the original photograph and the AI-modified advertising image.

Stanford Has Published Guidelines for AI Use

The reported incident comes as Stanford has formal guidance governing the use of artificial intelligence in marketing and communications. The university’s AI guidelines state that people’s names, images, voices or likenesses should not be used in published content without appropriate authorization and required clearances.

Stanford’s guidelines also say AI-generated or AI-manipulated content should be clearly identified when failing to do so could mislead audiences about what is real. The policy specifically addresses synthetic media depicting real individuals and says such applications require explicit consent.

The university’s Residential & Dining Enterprises operates student housing, dining and related services across Stanford. Its official website describes R&DE as an organization supporting Stanford’s academic mission through housing, dining, hospitality and other campus services.

The Stanford Review’s report did not include a public response from Stanford addressing the specific advertising image. As a result, the markets university’s explanation for the AI alterations and the process used to create or approve the material remains unclear.

The Stanford Review published its report on Sept. 21, 2026, making the handling of the disputed advertising image the immediate focus of the controversy.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.