@baldur just recently, an article went around on how genAI will easily show you people of X culture, taking a selfie (native americans, yuan dynasty chinese, aztec warriors, neanderthals, you name it) – except they all have that grotesque rictus toothy smile they use in the US.

i found that to be such a good example: on the surface, it purports to show historic (or prehistoric) people in a lively manner, not like exhibits. which would be good! but also, it makes painfully evident that it will impose a highly regional, very present-day idea of ‘liveliness’ upon it.