Disney AI filter turns lesbian psychologist into a man

Occurred: October 2024

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An AI-powered filter transformed Dr. Jessica Taylor, a lesbian psychologist known for her advocacy on women's issues and mental health, into a male version of herself, sparking discussion about the implications of gender representation and identity in digital spaces.ย 

What happened

Dr Jessica Taylor and her wife Jaimi put their wedding photos through a Disney Pixar-style filter available on TikTok, only for the filter to convert Taylor into a prince rather than a princess.ย 

Mother-of-two Jess took to Instagram to joke that Disney was being a "homophobic AF" for not representing their same-sex marriage.

The filter was created on TikTok editing app CapCut. It is understood not to be affiliated with Disney itself.

Why it happened

The use of AI filters on platforms like TikTok has become increasingly popular, allowing users to experiment with their appearance in various ways.ย 

Dr. Taylor's experience highlights how these filters can inadvertently reinforce stereotypes or misrepresent identities, especially when applied to individuals with strong public personas advocating for specific communities.ย 

What it means

The incident raises questions about the intersection of technology, gender identity and representation.ย 

It also underscores the potential for AI tools to impact perceptions of gender and sexuality, as well as the responsibility of creators and users to consider the implications of their digital transformations.

Algorithmic bias

Algorithmic bias describes systematic and repeatable errors in a computer system that create "unfair" outcomes, such as "privileging" one category over another in ways different from the intended function of the algorithm.

Source: Wikipedia ๐Ÿ”—

System ๐Ÿค–

Operator: Dr Jessica Taylor
Developer: TikTok
Country: UK
Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts
Purpose: Imitate Disney
Technology: Machine learning
Issue: Accuracy/reliability; Bias/discrimination
Transparency: Governance