When AI Erases Whakapapa: The Cost of “Perfecting” Our Family Photos

I asked AI to restore an old photo of my Nana and Grandad.
The result? Sharper but unrecognisable.

Nana, who was Māori, came back white.
Grandad returned without the warmth I remembered.
Their whakapapa—the cultural essence in their faces—was replaced by something generic.

AI made the photo “better,” but at the cost of identity and story.

That moment stopped me. It reminded me how easily technology can rewrite our narratives under the guise of improvement.
When AI “fixes” an image, it doesn’t see the love lines, the lived experiences, or the stories held in our features. It only sees data.

What I learned:

• AI doesn’t understand whakapapa or cultural nuance.

• “Perfecting” a photo can erase what makes it ours.

• Our ancestors deserve more than algorithmic guesses.

Sometimes, the blur tells the real story.

We often turn to AI for enhanced, sharper images, clearer colours, and fewer flaws. But maybe the imperfections are the connection. They remind us that our stories are not meant to be polished; they’re meant to be remembered.

Have you ever used AI to enhance family photos?
Did it change more than just the pixels?