AI Post Costs CEO Job
Michigan credit union CEO leaves position following backlash over viral AI-generated image post.
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Smith said she and her family used ChatGPT to mock up the sweatshirts before a 10-day trip to Halifax, and posted the image with the caption, “Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will,” followed by “lol lol.”
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Smith said her sister reposted a screenshot without the AI-content marker; the original Facebook post has since been deleted.
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The controversy came after current President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” a move that prompted backlash from Canadians, Prime Minister Mark Carney and the animated series South Park.
Jane Smith is no longer CEO of Michigan's Family First Credit Union after backlash over an AI-generated photo showing her family in "Lake America" sweatshirts during a Canada trip. Toronto Life reported that Chief Operations Officer Jason Acosta has become interim CEO. Smith said the post was meant as a joke about President Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario, and she apologized, calling it poor judgment.
The credit union apologized for any concern and hurt caused by the episode but did not confirm whether the viral post directly led to Smith's departure. The Independent reported that Smith and her family used ChatGPT to create the mock-up before a 10-day trip to Halifax, posting it with the caption: "Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will," followed by "lol lol."
How the AI Photo Went Viral
Smith created the image with her family using ChatGPT before their Canada trip. She posted it to Facebook with a lighthearted caption joking about the sweatshirts' message. Her sister later reposted a screenshot of the image without the AI-content marker, which amplified the post's reach online. Smith has since deleted the original Facebook post.
Trump's Lake Ontario Renaming Order Sparks Backlash
President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America," a move that drew swift criticism from Canadians and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Yahoo News reported that the controversy even prompted a response from the animated series South Park. Smith's post was widely seen as mocking the proposal, turning it into a cultural flashpoint.
Credit Union's Response and Leadership Change
Family First Credit Union released a statement apologizing for the concern and hurt the episode caused its community. AOL reported the credit union did not explicitly say whether the viral controversy prompted Smith's removal. Jason Acosta, the bank's Chief Operations Officer, stepped into the interim CEO role following Smith's departure.
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