TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A recent social media post by Troy University is sparking conversations about the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
After beating South Alabama in the Battle for the Belt, Troy University posted an AI-generated image to its official Instagram account page to celebrate the win. Although the post received many likes and reposts, multiple comments were also left under it stating their dissatisfaction with the use of AI.
One comment from user @will.heeres stated:
“Publicly funded non profit institution with enough money to undergo an entire rebranding process, build tons of new academic buildings, an indoor practice for the [football] team, but you’re posting AI slop? It’s not even quality slop…”
The post has since been deleted, but the following statement was released to TrojanVision:
“A post made on the Troy University Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 4, was created using a generative AI tool. While the intent was positive — to celebrate and share in the excitement of TROY’s victory over South Alabama — we recognize that the use of AI in creative content can be viewed as diminishing the contributions of artists and creative professionals. That was not our intent.
OTHER NEWS: Sigma Tau Delta holds Banned Books Read-In
The post has been removed from our feed as we continue to evaluate the appropriate use of generative AI as a resource for content creation. Troy University remains committed to using emerging technologies in responsible and creative ways that tell the University’s story while also celebrating the talent and passion of our students, faculty, and staff.”
Troy University Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Chris Stagl, who recently gave a talk about the ethical use of AI at the Speculative Futures Conference held at Troy in the Spring, believes AI can be a useful tool for social media posts.
“I don’t necessarily see anything wrong with it. I also don’t think an illustrator could of made that in a reasonable amount of time for them to post on social media. It’s speeding up the process for the image they were trying to create.”
However, Stagl also said that a disclaimer may need to be put on any posts containing AI-generated images so those who see it know that the image is not an original work, but rather created using a program like Chat-GPT .
“We have a sliding scale policy in Art and Design where you have a conversation with us and let us know you are going to do it, that’s fine. Perhaps that’s the answer, perhaps if you do put out a graphic like that, you say just so everyone knows, this is AI generated, and we are not trying to take original credit for this idea.”
Stagl also thinks AI technology is not yet at a point where people should not be concerned about AI being used in place of professional artists and graphic designers for social media graphics.
“Whether you like it or don’t like it, it’s totally fine to have those beliefs about it, but I don’t think there is a lot of room right now to be so upset about something like that. It just seems silly to a design professor that looks at creative work all the time. Is it taking away someone’s job? The person who made the graphic has a job; they wrote the prompt.”
To learn more, see Troy University’s AI policy and its social media policy.
