AI-generated images are rapidly transforming the portrayal of extreme poverty, increasingly replacing traditional photography across stock photo platforms like Adobe Stock and Freepik. Researcher Arsenii Alenichev refers to this trend as “poverty porn 2.0,” emphasizing that synthetic images are favored for their low cost and lack of consent issues. A search for “poverty” on these sites predominantly reveals AI-generated visuals, prompting Freepik’s CEO Joaquín Abela to highlight consumer demand as the driving force. Even major organizations, including the UN, are utilizing AI imagery, raising ethical concerns about representation. Critics argue that AI images perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reduce subjects to props, as noted by NGO consultant Kate Kardol. Despite controversy, the ease of creating AI visuals has led to a surge, with estimates suggesting 300 million AI images were uploaded in just three years—a stark comparison to traditional photography. The shift calls for a reevaluation of ethical standards in visual storytelling.
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