Is this a rant or a sign of GOMS (Grumpy Old Man Syndrome)? Either way, I am over the AI-generated glamour-shots on LinkedIn.
Will the Real *You* Please Stand Up? (Why Your AI Headshot Is Hurting Your Professional Brand)
You know what I’m talking about. The porcelain skin. The uncanny jawline. The eyebrows that carved in a Pixar studio. The “perfect lighting” that somehow makes you look like you’ve never sweated in your entire adult life.
It’s wild out there. LinkedIn is starting to look like a dating app in 2018 – at the peak of the Snapchat filter epidemic. Over-filtered. Over-airbrushed. And completely disconnected from reality.
I’m just tired of it.
Here’s the truth: people want to connect with actual people. And AI Knox isn’t going to show up to the coffee shop. Real Knox is. Gray hair, 5–10 lbs of seasonal weight fluctuation, smile lines, imperfections – all of it.
My rule of thumb: If we meet for the first time at a coffee shop, would I recognize you?
That’s the test.
And honestly? Too many times other people have failed it.
I’ve had executives walk up to me at conferences – people I’ve known digitally for months – and start talking like we’re old friends. Meanwhile, I have a a blank expression because their LinkedIn headshot looks nothing like what’s in front of me.
Different hair. Different face. Different age.
And then they’re confused that I look confused.
Your digital presence introduces you before you introduce yourself. It is your first impression. And in some cases, it’s your first interview.
So why are we AI-filtering ourselves into oblivion?
Your LinkedIn headshot should not be a fictional character. If you’re going to build trust, at least let people meet the actual person they’re about to talk to.
And look – I get it. Aging is real. Gravity is undefeated. I earn more gray hair every year. My face changes when I gain or lose a few pounds. That’s life. That’s being human.
That’s why I tell people: Update your headshot once a year. Minimum.
Not because you need a “fresh” look. But because you need an accurate one. Imagine this blog post with a carousel:
So will the real Knox Keith please stand up?!? It’s funny – but it’s true. Obviously I didn’t spend a lot of time with the AI ‘look-a-liked,’ but it makes my point: We’ve crossed the line where AI Knox looks so good he might get me catfished by… myself.
But here’s the real punchline:
People trust real. People want real. People connect with real. And when your digital presence doesn’t match the human who shows up – trust cracks.
LinkedIn is not the place for catfishing. (Unless you’re applying for a job of a rebooted MTV reality show.)
If you want to stand out, be memorable, and build professional credibility?
SHOW YOUR REAL FACE! Show up as a real person. And stop outsourcing your identity to Midjourney – or whatever AI tool is popular.
Rant over.
* For now.
(So which picture is me? Comment below! 😂 )
#AI #LinkedInCatfishing
And as always —
➡️ Give me a follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/knoxkeith
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