Artificial headshots are not intelligent.

There's no denying the refreshing feeling that comes with a brand-new set of headshots. However, it's time to address how our business culture has taken the importance of headshots to extreme levels. The pursuit of the perfect headshot has become an overwhelming obsession, burdened by unnecessary criteria. Striving to meet these unrealistic standards is pushing us to the brink of impossibility and, not to mention, costing a small fortune.

We've been conditioned to believe that a headshot must strike a delicate balance between professional and casual, capturing a natural essence while showcasing our best features with flawless makeup. We're expected to avoid posing while looking dynamic and vibrant as if we're in motion. Let's not even start on the complexities of choosing the "perfect" background.

Enter artificial intelligence. Now, people can generate a professional headshot with the click of a button, no cost associated and no makeup needed.

How does artificial intelligence generate headshots?

1. Data Collection: AI developers gather a large dataset of real headshot images. The dataset includes a diverse range of people to ensure the generated headshots are varied and representative.

2. Preprocessing: The images in the dataset could undergo resizing, cropping, or normalization to make them suitable for the AI model.

3. Convergence: As training progresses, the generator becomes more proficient at creating realistic headshots, and the discriminator becomes more skilled at detecting fakes. The goal is for the generator to create headshots that are indistinguishable from real photographs.

4. Generating New Headshots: After training, the generator is capable of generating new headshot images. The output is a synthetic headshot image that has never been seen before but resembles the characteristics of the real headshots from the training dataset.

But it's time to take a step back and ask ourselves: is this obsession truly necessary? Are we sacrificing authenticity in the relentless pursuit of an unattainable ideal?

A powerful headshot is one that captures your uniqueness, not one that conforms to a predefined mold.

Detecting fake headshots can be challenging, especially if they are well-crafted.

Here are ways you can unveil the signs of a fake headshot:

1. Inconsistencies in Lighting and Shadows: If the lighting on the subject's face doesn't match the background or seems unnatural, it could be a sign of manipulation.

2. Blurry or Unnatural Edges: If the edges look overly blurry, pixelated, or have unusual artifacts, it may indicate that the headshot was digitally altered. AI hands are a REAL sign.

3. Mismatched Perspective: If the person appears to be in a different perspective or scale than the background, it could be a composite of two separate images.

4. Unrealistic Skin Textures: Overly smooth or unrealistic skin textures might indicate retouching or the use of AI-based skin-smoothing algorithms.

5. Strange Eye Reflections: If there are odd shapes or patterns that don't match the surroundings, it could suggest digital manipulation.

6. Hair Detail and Shadows: Look for any unusual hair patterns, inconsistent shadows, or unrealistic hairlines. In my fake headshots above, you can see the ends of my hair have extremely "choppy" looking strands.

7. Reverse Image Search: Perform a reverse image search to see if the headshot appears elsewhere on the internet or if it matches any known stock images.

8. Examine Metadata: Check the metadata of the image for any clues about its origin or manipulation history.

9. Compare with Other Photos: If the person in the headshot is known to you, compare the headshot with other photos of them. Look for discrepancies in facial features, expressions, and other distinguishing characteristics. Don't spend too much time doing this - you're not a creeper.

In conclusion, opting for a genuine headshot over an artificial intelligence-generated one is a decision that carries substantial benefits and significance. While AI technology has made remarkable strides in producing increasingly realistic headshots, the essence of authenticity that a genuine photograph offers remains unparalleled. There are plenty of ways to DIY headshots that are inexpensive (if not free) and have phenomenal results. Most importantly, it's important to have courage to be exactly who you are.

But also - who wants to walk into a conference and have no one recognize the REAL you? #embarassing.