Photo courtesy:@famu_greeklife
The Instagram account @famu_greeklife uploaded its first flyer Saturday to promote next week’s NPHC step show. The graphic sparked considerable controversy among students as it depicted AI generated versions of multiple NPHC Greek lettered members in a fantasy setting. Which begs the question: Is the university’s use of AI ethical?
Andre Harper a fifth-year civil engineering major, shared his confusion as a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. which was part of the photoshoot that ultimately resulted in the final flyer.
“I was under the assumption that it was supposed to be like a teaser video, but I didn’t think AI was going to be used to alter it to make it like the theme of ‘Once upon a Time.’ I was kind of taken back. It kind of altered some features. Certain features that I had on the flyer was not me,” he said.
Elijah Townsend-Avella a fourth-year broadcast journalism student who is a social media intern for the Instagram page, provided some insight into how the page is run.
“Basically, I just cover the page, make sure there’s no comments that can be negatively affecting any organization, overview when it comes to questions that people have answering that, posting on social media. I share the responsibility with Mr. Kicheon who is the head of the fraternity and sorority life page along with another student,” he said.
He said the use of an AI can be to the students’ detriment.
“There’s so many talented people that we have in general that can like make a graphic. We can even pay people to make a graphic. Like I make bare minimum graphics but like I could’ve done something,” he said. “So, to see that I was like that kind of really wasn’t even any effort into it.”
Dorrian Stringfellow, a fourth-year health science pre-medicine student who runs his own graphic business, Dorriandiditmedia, says he was disappointed in the university’s reliance on AI in recent graphics.
“I actually kind of look up to FAMU in the aspect of their marketing and designs. I think they do a great job at promoting their Instagram pages and making more students come to the school so when I noticed that they kind of used AI for their homecoming event graphics I was a little bit let down cause I was looking forward to each graphic expanding out on its own a being unique,” he said.
Between the university not informing photoshoot participants that AI will be used for their graphic and shortening students’ roles in the media process, many were left disappointed and confused. As homecoming approaches will FAMU media continue this trend? Or will there be a return of authentic student-led graphics coming from the university?