Should you use AI photos on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has become an essential platform for professionals to build their personal brand and make connections. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn offers users the ability to showcase their skills, experience, and achievements to a large network of professionals. An impactful LinkedIn profile is key to standing out and advancing your career. One important element of your LinkedIn presence is your profile photo. But is using an AI-generated photo a good idea for your LinkedIn profile? Here we’ll explore the pros and cons of using AI profile photos on LinkedIn.

What are AI profile photos?

AI photo generation services utilize artificial intelligence to create realistic human faces and portraits. Popular services like Anthropic, Generated Photos, and Rosebud AI allow you to customize attributes like gender, age, ethnicity, facial expression, and more. Within seconds, you can generate a unique AI portrait. These AI faces are not real people – they are completely synthesized by algorithms. However, they often look remarkably authentic.

Using these services, you could quickly generate a professional, high-quality headshot for your LinkedIn profile. And you can tweak the portrait until you get an image that aligns with how you want to present yourself. The ease and customizability of AI photos makes them an intriguing option for many LinkedIn users.

Pros of using an AI profile photo on LinkedIn

Here are some potential benefits of using an AI-generated photo for your LinkedIn profile:

They’re fast and simple to create

Getting professional headshots taken can be time-consuming and expensive. You have to schedule a photoshoot, get your hair and makeup done, pick attire, pose for dozens of photos, then sort through all the options. AI photos skip all that hassle, providing a polished portrait almost instantly. If you need a photo but don’t have the time or budget for a photoshoot, AI generation services offer a quick and affordable alternative.

Full control over appearance

With AI generation tools, you can pick exactly what you want your photo to look like. You can choose hair color and style, skin tone, facial expression, age, gender, and background. This level of control allows you to finely craft an image that aligns with your personal brand. You can also easily update the photo whenever you want to refresh your look.

Avoid unflattering photos

Even professional photographers can occasionally take an unflattering portrait. Blinking at the wrong moment or an awkward expression can ruin what would otherwise be a great headshot. AI photos give you a flawless, polished image every time. There’s no risk of closed eyes, odd facial expressions, or other unintentional mishaps.

Privacy and anonymity

Some professionals may prefer not to use their real likeness on their LinkedIn profile, whether for privacy concerns or other reasons. AI photos allow you to keep your actual appearance anonymous while still having a photo on your profile. The ability to customize facial features also means you can alter the image to avoid recognition.

Cons of using an AI profile photo on LinkedIn

Using an AI-generated photo on LinkedIn also has some downsides:

It’s not a real representation of you

Authenticity is important for your personal brand. An AI portrait, while visually realistic, is ultimately artificial. It does not show the genuine you. Some hiring managers and recruiters may see an AI photo as misleading or suspicious if it does not match your actual appearance.

Unethical implications

Using AI photos raises some ethical concerns. Presenting an artificial likeness as yourself could be interpreted as deceptive. And borrowing someone else’s identity via AI generation creates issues around consent and misrepresentation. Additionally, imperfections in the AI could lead to biased or problematic imagery.

Against LinkedIn’s rules

LinkedIn’s user agreement prohibits posting of fake or inaccurate information and explicitly bans AI-generated profile photos. Using an AI portrait violates these terms of service. Doing so risks having your account flagged or removed by LinkedIn.

Misses out on real networking opportunities

A big benefit of LinkedIn is making authentic connections through shared experiences and interests. An AI photo puts an artificial barrier between you and potential contacts. By not accurately representing yourself visually, you lose out on networking based on actual commonalities.

Raises suspicions if you meet people in real life

If you connect on LinkedIn with someone that you end up meeting in person, they may be confused or skeptical if your real appearance does not match your profile photo. The discrepancy could undermine your professional credibility.

Best practices for AI profile photos on LinkedIn

If you do opt to use an AI-generated photo on LinkedIn, here are some best practices to follow:

– Make subtle edits only. Don’t alter your likeness to the point that it is vastly different from your real appearance. Minor smoothing and adjustments are ok, but avoid major changes.

– Be upfront in your profile that it is an AI photo. Overt deception should be avoided.

– Periodically update the photo. Switch up hair styles, clothing, backgrounds etc. to make it seem more “real”.

– Use the same AI image consistently across other social media profiles. The matching profile pics will seem more natural.

– Pick neutral facial expressions and backgrounds to keep it professional.

– Seek explicit permission if generating a photo based on someone else’s likeness. Never use a real person’s photo without their consent.

Expert opinions on AI profile photos

Here is some input from professional LinkedIn consultants on using AI-generated images:

Sue Ellson, LinkedIn expert & social selling trainer

“I advise executives on their LinkedIn brand. An AI photo lacks authenticity. For top executives, I recommend an authentic, high-quality headshot. AI photos may be tempting for simplicity, but don’t provide the personal connection important for senior leadership roles.”

Lewis Howes, LinkedIn coach & host of The School of Greatness podcast

“The eyes are the window to the soul. An AI photo lacks that human connection essential for relationship-building on LinkedIn. I always coach my clients to use a real photo that conveys their personality.”

Dorie Clark, personal branding strategist & author

“Think carefully before using an AI photo. Yes, it’s easier than coordinating a photoshoot. But authenticity is key for your personal brand – an AI photo may undermine perceptions of your trustworthiness. Proceed with caution.”

Pros and cons recap

The verdict on AI profile photos for LinkedIn

Here is a summary of the key considerations on whether to use an AI-generated photo for your LinkedIn profile:

– Authenticity is critical – AI photos are ultimately artificial and counter the goal of an authentic personal brand.

– Violates LinkedIn terms – AI photos explicitly banned under LinkedIn user agreement, risking account issues.

– Recruiters are skeptical – Research shows many recruiters view AI photos as a red flag compared to real pictures.

– Limited networking – Impersonal AI photos can hinder relationship-building that is core to LinkedIn.

– Poor impression in-person – Discrepancy from real appearance undermines credibility if you meet connections.

– Appropriate only for anonymity – Main case where AI photos appropriate: preserving privacy by obscuring real likeness.

The bottom line

For most LinkedIn users, AI-generated profile photos should be avoided. The risks around authenticity and violating LinkedIn’s terms of service outweigh the minor convenience benefit of quick generation. Investing in a professional headshot that genuinely reflects you is worth the effort to maximize the impact of your LinkedIn presence. Only use AI photos if anonymity is a major necessity and limitations are accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about AI profile photos on LinkedIn:

Is LinkedIn able to detect AI-generated profile photos?

Not reliably yet, but LinkedIn is actively developing AI to identify fake photos. With AI photo generation becoming more advanced, LinkedIn moderators currently still depend largely on user reporting of policy violations. However, increased use of AI photos makes it likely that more sophisticated detection will be a priority for LinkedIn engineering teams.

What are the risks of getting caught using an AI photo on LinkedIn?

If reported or identified, LinkedIn will likely remove the AI photo and issue a warning or temporary suspension from the platform. Repeated violations could get your account permanently banned. Having your profile deactivated – especially as a job seeker – can be severely detrimental.

What if I credit the AI service I used to generate the photo?

Giving credit does not exempt you from LinkedIn’s ban on AI photos. Adding a disclaimer that it is AI-generated may slightly mitigate the deception, but does not make it acceptable per LinkedIn’s rules. The only exception is if the image is used in the context of promoting or discussing the AI technology itself.

Can I legally use a celebrity’s face for my AI profile photo?

No, that would be unauthorized use of intellectual property without the celebrity’s consent. It could potentially result in legal action for misappropriating their likeness and impersonation. Even for non-celebrities, using the likeness of a real person without their explicit permission raises ethical issues.

What about editing a real photo of myself – does that count as AI?

Basic touch-ups like color correction, cropping, filters, and minor retouching of a real photo are permitted. But drastically altering your appearance with facial modification apps or filters likely violates the AI images policy. Use common sense – minor edits are ok, but radical changes cross the line into artificial territory.