People living with visible differences, including scars, birthmarks, and genetic conditions, are speaking out against AI tools that automatically "fix" their appearances. The backlash follows reports of AI software altering photos to conform to narrow, conventional beauty standards, effectively erasing the unique features that define these individuals.
A recent investigation by BBC Wales tested five popular AI platforms—Grok, Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and Meta AI—using the prompt to "make this person normal." While some tools, such as Claude and Meta AI, refused the request or cited safety guardrails, others like Grok, Gemini, and ChatGPT successfully removed facial differences while leaving the rest of the image, such as clothing and backgrounds, untouched.
For many, these digital alterations feel deeply personal. Rhiannon Morgan, who has a rare genetic skin condition, discovered that AI had smoothed over her skin and hands in a work newsletter photo. "It eradicates all the obstacles I’ve had to overcome to be the person I am today," she said. Similarly, campaigner Jono Lancaster, who has Treacher Collins syndrome, described receiving unsolicited AI-edited images of himself as "super offensive," noting that such tools undermine years of work toward body acceptance.
The charity Changing Faces has condemned the practice, calling it unacceptable that AI is being used to exclude people or force them to conform to rigid societal norms. While companies like OpenAI and Google have stated that reducing bias and improving representation are ongoing priorities, activists are calling for more inclusive training data and stricter ethical parameters to ensure that AI does not define "normal" at the expense of human identity.
