A Michigan credit union CEO whose AI-generated photograph of her family wearing “Lake America” sweatshirts went viral during a trip to Canada is no longer with the organization. Michigan borders Canada and the company did not risk upsetting the neighbor.Jane Smith, former CEO of Family First Credit Union in Saginaw, Michigan, ceased to be an employee of the credit union with immediate effect, according to a statement issued by the organization. Chief operating officer Jason Acosta has been appointed interim CEO.The credit union did not specify whether Smith resigned or was dismissed, nor did it explicitly say that the AI-generated image was the reason for her departure. However, the announcement came days after the photograph triggered widespread backlash in Canada.
What was in the AI-generated photo?
Smith and three members of her family had travelled to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a 10-day holiday beginning September 11.Before the trip, the family discussed President Donald Trump’s move to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America”. Smith later said they took a family photograph at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and used ChatGPT to digitally add matching “Lake America” sweatshirts to the image.Smith posted the altered photograph on her private Facebook account with an indication that it had been generated using AI. The caption read: “Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will,” followed by “lol lol.”Smith said the photograph was intended as a joke and was not meant to make a political statement.“We weren’t trying to make a political statement,” she told ABC12 News, explaining that the family was “kind of poking fun” at the controversy surrounding the proposed name change.Smith’s sister then posted the same photograph without the AI label. It quickly spread online, with many people apparently interpreting the image as a genuine photograph of an American family wearing the sweatshirts while visiting Canada.Smith said that the family had never actually owned or worn the sweatshirts.“We never had actual sweatshirts. We never wore sweatshirts,” she said.
Backlash and apology
The photograph generated an angry response in Canada, where the proposed renaming of Lake Ontario has been politically sensitive.Smith later apologized for posting the image and acknowledged that creating and sharing it had been a mistake. She also warned about the potential for AI-generated images to be mistaken for real photographs.“I think the AI can be dangerous in the fact that it can make people think something’s real that’s not,” she said.Smith also said that her family cut short its Canadian trip after she received death threats following the controversy.Credit union distanced from the postFamily First Credit Union’s board had previously criticised the photograph, saying it did not reflect the organisation’s values. The controversy involved Smith acting in a personal capacity while travelling with her family, rather than making the post as an official representative of the credit union. After announcing Smith’s departure, Family First said: “We sincerely apologize for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused our members and community.”
The Lake America controversy
The photograph emerged amid a broader dispute over Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in US federal usage.The lake borders both the United States and Canada, and the proposed name change has drawn opposition in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canadians will continue to call it Lake Ontario. Meanwhile, three US lawmakers have introduced legislation seeking to prevent the renaming.
