Missing: Have You Seen This Man?
I had heard of this happening, but never thought it would happen to me.
People using AI to tweak their LinkedIn headshots. Small edits. Subtle improvements. Professional polish.
So I decided to try it.
It Started Innocently Enough
I opened up ChatGPT and decided to give it a whirl.
I prompted it, real casual like, “wouldn’t it be cool if my profile picture had a navy blue sport coat on?”
The First Result Was… Suspiciously Edited
The sport coat? Perfect.
The rest of me?
I was tanned like a Real Housewife from the Jersey Shore, and my teeth were brighter than Ross from Friends in every lighting condition known to man.
But hey, the jacket was sharp.
So I tried again.
Second Attempt: A Negotiation Begins
I pulled back slightly.
“Not so tan. Not so whitened.”
Third Attempt: Identity Crisis Begins
That is when things escalated.
Suddenly:
- New face
- New teeth
- New tan
- New sport coat
- New shirt
New… me?
Or as I started to suspect… Bizarro me.
At This Point, Things Were Out of Hand
I no longer recognized the man in the image.
And more importantly, he certainly didn’t recognize me.
Missing Person Report
If you see this man, please contact local authorities.
He appears well-dressed.
Possibly overexposed to the sun.
Last seen somewhere between “professional LinkedIn profile” and “AI-generated trust fall experiment.”
He does not seem to know he exists.
The Lesson (If There Is One)
AI tools are powerful.
Sometimes a little too powerful.
You ask for a blazer, and suddenly you are auditioning for a pharmaceutical commercial you never signed up for.
Final Thought
Enhancement is fine.
But identity replacement is where things get interesting.
Or concerning.
Or both.
Proceed With Caution
At Dancey Growth Group, we believe in using technology to improve clarity, not create alternate universes of yourself.
If you want help building a brand that still looks like you, Contact Us!
