Stanford University on Tuesday admitted it used AI to alter a photo of three students for promotional materials, including replacing a male student with a black woman and making another student appear thinner.

The Details: The Stanford Review (not rated), a student publication on campus, first reported that Stanford Residential & Dining Enterprises (Stanford R&DE) had altered the photo, which was used in advertisements around the school. The original photo, taken in 2024, depicted two male students and a female student together in a cafeteria holding food trays. After the edits, all students were altered in some way; the female's face appeared thinner, one male student's hair and shirt had been changed and the other male had been replaced with a black female. Stanford said the changes violated its policies on the use of AI-generated images.

Stanford's Priorities: The Stanford Review wrote that while "this incident is humorous and generated thousands of reactions…, it offers unsurprising insight into Stanford's and its bureaucracy's persisting ideological and racial preferences." The outlet was critical of Stanford's use of AI, writing that Stanford R&DE "likely believed they were subtle enough for no one to notice." It said it will continue to monitor the university's future use of generative AI.

'Silenced and Erased': Outlets on the right and Straight Arrow News (Center) quoted Billy Ramirez, who was replaced in the photo, who said he was upset about Stanford's choice for representation. They cited him saying, "Seeing my identity changed and being left out of the picture made me feel, in a way, silenced and erased from a representation that was supposed to include me." Headlines for both the New York Post (Right) and The Post Millennial (Right) were more sensationalized and both described Ramirez as white compared to left outlets which said he was Hispanic. Despite this, their actual coverage of the photo was generally straight-forward and objective.

Diversity in Academia: The New York Times (Lean Left) said the finding comes as higher-ed weighs "how and whether to embrace diversity efforts on their campuses" due to "pressure from the Trump administration." It noted Stanford was also being investigated by the Justice and Education departments over their admissions programs and potential racial discrimination. The Times included a brief quote from Ramirez, who it specified was Hispanic, saying he was upset about being "erased," but focused more on other instances of universities changing students' races in promotions over the years.

Stanford's AI Legacy: San Francisco Chronicle (Lean Left) framed the story within Stanford's AI evolution over the years, starting with it creating one of the world's first AI labs in 1965. It quoted Ramirez calling the changes "not surpris[ing] given the culture of Stanford revolves heavily around AI usage." The Chronicle also noted instances of other universities using AI to create promotional materials.

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Texas and California displayed some common ground recently with both states implementing limits on data center development.

"Not Exactly Surprising": Business Insider (Lean Left bias) highlighted the common ground found between California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), saying the regulations are "Finally something" the states can agree on. The article said "It's not exactly surprising to see the two political adversaries set their sights on the same target, given that it's become a nonpartisan political issue," adding that "Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns about the impacts of data centers, and Americans across the country have turned out to protest proposed developments."

"Angers Texas Communities": "Simply put, Texans must come first" according to Abbott. The Texas Tribune (Lean Left) highlighted Abbot's statements, saying his move "to stop issuing new permits for data centers" comes "as rapid data center development statewide angers Texas communities ahead of Abbott's November reelection bid."

"Backlash And A Pivot": CalMatters (Center) said that "Newsom clamps down on California data centers as voters turn against the industry," explaining that he "signed seven data center bills into law on Monday." The outlet highlighted that Newsom "contrasted the new regulations with President Donald Trump's hands-off approach to data centers and artificial intelligence." However, the article also mentioned that "Newsom's signature on the new laws represents a significant departure from his actions on data centers last year," adding that the "pivot from his [Newsom] own past vetoes" came after "facing growing public backlash."

RELATED: The Insight: The Data Center Dilemma

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A grand jury in Mississippi determined that there is no evidence to warrant charges against individuals for the death of Nolan Wells, a college student who was found dead after a Fourth of July boating trip and party on an island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Outlets on the right tended to highlight the effects of rumors and judgment against Wells' friends who were subject to investigation, while outlets on the left focused on the potential influence of race and racism on the investigation.

The Details: Nolan Wells, who was black, was found two days after he was last seen at the party, and autopsy reports show his death was "consistent with drowning." A separate autopsy conducted by a forensic pathologist Wells' family hired found bruising on the back of his head, though it was not enough to determine a cause of death. The grand jury found that the condition of the body and other evidence was not enough to indicate criminal conduct.

For Context: A witness testified that he saw Wells slip off the side of the boat the afternoon of the trip but that he did not appear injured. His friends, who are white, later left the island without Wells, claiming that he stayed behind to talk to a girl. Wells' phone was still on the boat when it left. Wells' family has pushed back on the investigation and the jury's decision, and his mother said, "How can a jury come to the conclusion of drowning, despite knowing that there was trauma to his body, and despite hearing many inconsistencies?"

How the Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) wrote that Wells' friends were "cleared" by the grand jury and that their lawyers intend to "hold the accusers accountable." Fox quoted one of the friends' attorneys, who said, "This story involves two tragedies. The death of Nolan Wells is a tragedy. So too is the way his friends, his community and his state were maligned by unscrupulous charlatans and grifters who spread false and malicious lies." Associated Press (Lean Left) repeatedly suggested that there was "rampant speculation and suspicion" around the investigation as people "grapple[d] with Mississippi's history of racial tension and what it means to be a Black person in a majority white setting." NewsNation (Center) quoted heavily from the grand jury's report as well as the district attorney for Mississippi's 19th Circuit Court District, who said, "There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan's disappearance and death were racially motivated… Nolan chose to stay on the island that day, and there is not a scintilla of evidence to contradict that."

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