Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to fabricate images of poverty in charity campaigns. A University of East Anglia (UEA) study found a rise in photorealistic AI images, with poverty the dominant theme, often reproducing “harmful tropes associated with poverty, race and vulnerability.”

This follows a Guardian investigation in October 2025 showing charities and aid agencies relying more on AI images of extreme poverty, children and sexual violence survivors. UEA warned that unchecked use of such images could undermine public trust in the sector.

The study argued that using AI to portray human vulnerability risks damaging the entire sector. Highlighting longstanding criticism of “poverty porn,” the report said the trend suggests a “persistent belief” that images of suffering rather than systemic solutions—are needed to engage audiences.