The controversy surrounding the Middleton photo has led to increased scrutiny of royal images. The photo, released by Kensington Palace, was suspected to have been altered or generated by artificial intelligence, leading multiple photo agencies to advise against its publication. Despite an apology from the Princess of Wales for the "confusion" caused, conspiracy theories regarding the image persist. The rise of AI image generators has increased mistrust of online content, with even older royal photos now being viewed with suspicion.
Key takeaways:
- Royal photographer Misan Harriman denied tabloid reports that he manipulated Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2021 pregnancy announcement photo, calling the claims 'insidious and really dangerous journalism.'
- The controversy arose after a photo of Kate Middleton, released by Kensington Palace, was suspected to have been digitally altered or generated by artificial intelligence, leading to increased scrutiny of royal photos.
- Harriman clarified that he conducted the photo shoot remotely through an iPad due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that any mention of willow trees and meadows came from the podcast host, not him.
- Despite the proliferation of AI image generators, AI detection tools remain unreliable, leading to increased mistrust of online content, including royal photos taken before such tools became widely available.