Avalanche news photo creates a stir after AI mishap -…

In early July 2024, the Alpine Avalanche published a Facebook post featuring a doctored image of the Marfa City Council that caused significant public outcry. The incident highlighted the risks of utilizing generative AI tools in journalistic workflows without adequate oversight.

What happened

The controversy began when the Alpine Avalanche editor attempted to improve a blurry, low-quality screenshot taken from a Zoom recording of the June 25 Marfa City Council meeting. Seeking to sharpen the image, the editor processed the photograph through an AI program designed to enhance focus.

Instead of simply sharpening the existing pixels, the AI tool significantly altered the appearances of the officials. Councilmember Katy Kowal was incorrectly depicted wearing glasses, as was Councilmember Travis Acreman. Furthermore, the AI replaced Councilmember Raul Lara with an unrecognizable individual who only slightly resembled him. The image, which was also published in the print edition of the paper, was flagged by Facebook with an "AI info" label, alerting readers to the manipulated nature of the content.

Councilmembers expressed strong disapproval of the error, with Councilmember Emily Kolb labeling the incident as lazy and embarrassing. The editor acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to moving too quickly while attempting to fix a poor-quality original source. While the editor confirmed that AI was not used to write the accompanying story, the incident prompted a broader discussion among council members regarding the increasing and often inappropriate reliance on AI tools in professional settings, including journalism and public communications.