Family First CEO Resigns Over AI-Generated 'Lake America' Photo Controversy
Family First CEO Jane Smith resigned days after posting an AI-generated family photo referencing the renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America amid trade tensions.
Jane Smith, CEO of the American credit union Family First, stepped down days after sharing an AI-generated family photo featuring sweatshirts with the inscription "Lake America," CNBC reports. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. The lake is situated between Ontario, Canada's most populous province, and New York state amid ongoing trade tensions.
According to a statement on the Family First website, Smith ceased working for the company "immediately." The statement was signed by Morris Peterson, Chairman of Family First, and Chief Operating Officer Jason Acosta, who will serve as interim CEO. Smith had posted the image on Facebook on September 11 with the caption, "Love our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will. Lol," though the original post has since been deleted.
Family First, based in Michigan, did not explicitly confirm if public backlash drove Smith's departure, but stated they sincerely apologize for the distress caused. In an interview with ABC12 News, Smith insisted the original image bore an AI-generated watermark and was intended as a lighthearted joke regarding the lake's renaming rather than a political statement.
