I am writing to provide feedback on a significant issue regarding DALL·E’s content policies and the erasure of Indigenous representation.
While I understand the need to prevent harmful stereotypes and misrepresentation, the current restrictions completely block the depiction of Indigenous people, even in respectful, historical, and artistic contexts. This policy unintentionally results in erasing Indigenous visibility, rather than protecting it.
For example, when I attempted to generate an image in the style of Mexican Revolutionary Muralism (1920s–1940s)—an artistic movement that prominently featured Indigenous farmers as the backbone of Mexican culture—DALL·E refused to generate the image. Despite multiple rewordings that emphasized historical accuracy, cultural respect, and artistic intent, the request continued to be blocked.
This raises serious concerns about inclusivity:
- Indigenous people cannot use DALL·E to depict their own communities, history, or culture.
- Historical and artistic representation of Indigenous labor, resilience, and contributions is being censored.
- Overly broad AI restrictions are silencing marginalized communities rather than empowering them.
While I recognize the challenge of ensuring respectful AI-generated content, the current policies are counterproductive. Instead of preventing harm, they eliminate visibility altogether.
I urge OpenAI to reconsider how these restrictions are applied. Policies should prevent harmful depictions without outright banning Indigenous representation, especially in educational, historical, or self-representational contexts.
I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing how OpenAI plans to address this issue.