AI transforms visual media from celebrity likeness protection to inclusive portrait projects
Hollywood figures are using trademark law to protect AI‑generated replicas of their personas. Actor Matthew McConaughey filed trademarks covering his catchphrase and visual moments, while Jimmy Kimmel and Lionel Richie have pursued similar protections for signature elements of their brand.
Renowned retoucher Matt Supple explained how AI tools such as Adobe Firefly and ChatGPT now augment image‑extension and upscaling tasks, but he still insists on manual oversight for final decisions, grain matching and sensitive portrait work.
Smartphone maker TECNO, partnering with visual artist Angélica Dass, launched the two‑year "100 Portraits of Becoming" initiative. Using the CAMON 50 Ultra’s Universal Tone AI imaging, the project will photograph participants in Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Brazil, pairing each portrait with a personal story to create a digital Living Archive that promotes authentic representation of diverse skin tones.
The Fstoppers "Critique the Community" competition invited photographers to submit images enhanced with AI, requiring a description of the original shoot and the specific AI software used. Submissions will be judged by editors and winners receive photography tutorial prizes.