Real or Rendered? A Thought on Trust and Transparency in the Age of AI

A recent Today Show segment spotlighted the rise of AI-generated feel-good posts, stories of kindness and connection that were completely fabricated, albeit with good intentions.

It struck a chord with me.

Not because I’m surprised, but because I’ve noticed something similar creeping into professional spaces, especially in the product and design world.

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of posts featuring:
- Design reviews with walls of ideas
- Vibrant team collaborations
- Client presentations with next-level tech setups

Sometimes these are real. Sometimes they’re enhanced. And sometimes they’re entirely AI-generated.

If you're deeply experienced in the industry, it’s often easy to tell. But if you're newer, or looking in from the outside, whether you're an investor, a founder, or someone hiring for a project, these visuals can be misleading.

It raises an important question:
If the story starts with an illusion, what happens when the real work begins?

I’m not anti-AI. Quite the opposite. It’s a powerful tool when used with purpose and honesty. But if the goal is to inspire trust, then how we present ourselves matters.

Because trust isn’t just earned through results.
It’s built from the first impression.

(See my related LinkedIn post.)