Education Secretary Linda McMahon Used AI-Generated Photo in Post Honoring Ida B. Wells

[highplainsdem]

Source: People

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon shared a social media post honoring civil rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells — but critics are speaking out after she used an A.I.-generated image rather than a real photo of Wells.

On Friday, April 10, McMahon shared a post about Wells on Truth Social as part of a series about well-known women in American history. The tribute featured an image of a woman sitting at a desk that was labeled "Photo by Gemini," a Google A.I. tool.

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Historians and other figures were quick to criticize McMahon's use of an A.I.-generated photo, particularly because Wells, who died in 1931, had photographs taken of herself in her lifetime.

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Wells was known for her historic documentation of the lynchings of Black people in the South. She co-founded the NAACP and was an active participant in the suffrage movement, according to the National Women's History Museum.

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Read more: https://people.com/education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-used-ai-generated-photo-in-post-honoring-ida-b-wells-11948100

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From the Washington Post story about this:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/04/11/linda-mcmahon-fake-ida-b-wells-photo/

She has used several AI photos and illustrations to celebrate famous women in U.S. history under the hashtag “HerStoryInAction.” It includes AI images of Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and Sacagawea.

McMahon also posted a map of the 13 original American colonies that contains an unusual pronunciation guide for the number 13 (/thar-ten/) with mislocated states. For instance, the image shows Rhode Island west of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. New Jersey appears to be located in two places, including in the area that is now the state of Maine (which was part of Massachusetts at the time). The source of the map is not listed.

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Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association, lamented the growing use of AI to create historical images and illustrations on social media, including McMahon’s account.

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“The AI images are pulling from material that is historically inaccurate,” she said. “We have excellent sources for all of these women, so there is no point to using something that is AI generated.”

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[IcyPeas]

1. Remember when she called it A1 like the sauce.

[highplainsdem]

2. Yes. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised she didn't see anything wrong with that AI-generated map.

She might even be so stupid she thinks that if she asks a chatbot for a photo of someone, it will simply spit out a copy of an actual photo.

[jfz9580m]

3. They like to shill AI

Any chance they get.

The tech creep mafia wants returns on their investments. Wonder how that lot will scramble to rehabilitate themselves after.
My guess is claim it was all a deep plot to save democracy and they were actually working bts for civil society all along!

At which point, if they are embraced again, I am exiting society for good as a lost cause.