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Comment by dwringer | Hacker News Reader

I've been using an AI generated profile image which looks maybe 90% like me for quite a while in some places. I can't think of any obvious negative impacts. I've been totally upfront about it with my friends, but nobody's ever even mentioned it otherwise.

People have made their profile pictures a "pseudo-reality version" of who they think they are since the dawn of profile pictures IMHO.

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The negative impact is the shock and horror on people’s faces when seeing the subject in person after having interacted with the avatar for some time. Some people may call that positive impact though

That happens with any self-selected picture already. Angles, lighting, a good night’s sleep…

There's a negative externality of "punishing" anyone not engaging in this AI faux-reality and as with fashion magazines, altering the perception of what people should look like, leading to psychological damage when we don't live up to the expectation.

Alternative view, the heavy handed photoshopping was more impactful because it was labor intensive, costs money and not too common for the majority of photos. Now that everyone can get the super model magazine cover photo treatment our minds will build a callus. No longer will photographs be evidence or aspirational but just a representation of a projected reality. After you see a magic trick a couple of times that awe and shock wears off quickly.

Photo and video’s honeymoon is over.

If I am forced to use a picture, I use one from 20 years ago. :)

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