A.I.-generated picture of mayor by Baltimore's inspector general raises concerns - CBS News
Baltimore's inspector general shared an A.I.-generated image of Mayor Brandon Scott on social media, sparking concerns about political bias and fairness.
- Incident date
- Apr 2026
- Target
- Brandon Scott
A controversy arose after Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Cumming shared a social media post containing what appeared to be an A.I.-generated image of Mayor Brandon Scott. The image depicted the mayor surrounded by piles of money, holding shopping bags and smoking a cigar. The mayor's office responded, calling the post inappropriate and misleading.
What happened
The A.I. picture was shared as a thumbnail of a video link. The Mayor's Office Chief of Staff wrote to the Ethics Board and the OIG Advisory Board, requesting a review of Cumming's conduct, alleging the post was politically charged. Cumming stated she shared a link to a third-party video, did not notice the satirical A.I. image, and removed the video upon receiving feedback. She apologized to Mayor Scott, her team, and Baltimore residents, stating it would not happen again. Residents expressed disappointment, with some stating that posting fake images could damage a person's image.