Why AI should not be used to upscale or fill in details in photos ex remove mask

[BoycottTwitter]

I'm already seeing people on here use AI face tools to try to identify the masked ICE agent in Minneapolis. It's a truly terrible idea and here's why

— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell.com) 2026-01-07T22:15:22.893Z

When you use AI to upscale/enhance a photo or do something like remove a mask from an ICE agent it's not generating real details, instead it's just making things up kind of like an artist using his/her imagination and painting things. AI doesn't know more real details.

[stopdiggin]

1. it would be one thing if people were being honest and transparent about what they were doing

when they 'release' (post/publish) images or content that have been altered or enhanced. Unfortunately we live in a world where (self evidently) that isn't considered any sort of duty or requirement. And, even more unfortunately - a lot of consuming public - is just fine with that .. ?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. nah it's not fine at all. It's a shit move, it's lazy, and it's wasteful.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. This might interest you ....

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=2269390

Same argument applies to historic photos that are given a fake third dimension.

[canetoad]

5. Yep

I even prefer b&w to some smartarse's interpretation of colour.

[Blues Heron]

4. If it can help ID him, no prob.It's just like a police sketch. It's just another tool.

[hunter]

6. AI shouldn't be used for most things.

There is no intelligence in it.