British politician accused of being AI is actually a real person

Mark Matlock, political candidate of the right-wing Reform UK party, explained in Independent that he is a real person and not an artificial intelligence bot as some suspected.

Perhaps it was the shiny, hyper-smooth skin in the campaign photo, or the fact that Matlock apparently missed events like the election vote count — but earlier this week, a thread on X questioned whether Matlock even existed. “We may be on the verge of a MAJOR SCANDAL,” the post read.

Matlock, however, is a human candidate who was apparently seriously ill at the time of the election.

“I got pneumonia three days before election night. I was working out, taking vitamins to be able to participate, but it was just impossible. On election night, I couldn’t even stand up,” he said Independent. Matlock also shared the original photo that caught the eye with the outlet, saying the background had been removed and the tie’s color had been changed. But the photo has a rubbery, unsettling look that’s come to be associated with AI — especially Matlock’s hair and skin. It seems like a good lesson for all public servants: Don’t edit your photos in a way that looks like the Midjourney result for the “young, harmless-looking politician” prompt.

How Guardian draws attentionsome Reform UK candidates have given very few details about themselves online, which is likely to have fueled speculation about Matlock. So if you’re planning to run for elected office anytime soon, be careful: show up at events, engage with voters, and maintain a public profile. And, of course, refrain from editing your photos.