An AI was asked to create images of what Europeans think the average American from different states looks like – and the results are shocking.
According to the tech, Europeans hold racist and sexist stereotypes about Americans, and generally see people from the US as gluttonous, overweight consumers who only eat McDonalds.
That belief churned out a series of startling images – only of women – that presents how Americans are seen.
In the bot’s view, only Florida and Texas have attractive women. The images presented to represent those states were of scantily-clad blonde beauties.
The other states were summed up with photos of obese ladies chowing down on McDonalds, some of them with guns, and others in sports memorabilia.
Florida
Europeans seem to hold a hyper-sexualized view of Floridians
The image of how Europeans see people from Florida shows a sun-kissed, thin, conventionally attractive blonde woman standing confidently in a bright bikini.
This is one of the only flattering images the AI produced, but it’s worth noting how sexualized this portrayal of the average Floridian is.
‘I’m from Florida and I don’t look quite that good but I really appreciate the thought,’ a user commented on the post.
California
According to the AI, Europeans perceive Californians as liberal and creative, as this image of a purple-haired woman wearing a LGBTQ pride shirt seems to suggest.
But despite California’s heath-forward reputation, this person is just as overweight as many of the other images, sitting with a comically large McDonald’s burger, a pile of fries and two soft drinks.
Kansas
The AI believes Europeans see people from Kansas through a fantastical lens.
In this image, a woman dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz sits in a McDonald’s booth and looks out the window as Superman flies by.
Both of these fictional stories contain references to the state.
Her dog (perhaps an allusion to Toto?) sits beside her, somehow resisting the urge to chow down on a tray piled with fries, a massive burger and what appears to be mac and cheese.
Massachusetts
The image created for Massachusetts suggests that Europeans stereotype them as being angry, as this woman glaring from yet another McDonald’s booth suggests.
Another classic American food chain makes a cameo in this image: Dunkin Doughnuts. This upholds the stereotype that people from this state are obsessed with the coffee and doughnut brand.
Maine
Europeans may think that people from Maine are old and love to eat lobster – one of the exports this state is most famous for.
In this image, a gray-haired woman wearing a yellow rain hat and rain coat sits in – you guessed it – a McDonald’s booth.
Her burger is noticeably smaller than those pictured in other images, but her tray is piled high with dozens of steamed lobsters.
‘Ms Massachusetts is pretty accurate [to be fair],’ a commented under the picture reads.
Oregon
New York
Europeans see New Yorker’s as furiously angry and Yankees-obsessed
This state is known for its city skyline, and some of New York City’s most iconic structures made it into the background of this image, such as the Statue of Liberty.
But the real focus is the furiously angry woman pictured wearing a Yankees hat and jersey, who appears to be shouting at nothing as she prepares to chow down on seven McDonald’s burgers.
Pennsylvania
Europeans might think Pennsylvanians are gluttonous sports fans
Similar to New York, Europeans might think Pennsylvanians are gluttonous sports fans.
This AI image shows a woman wearing a Phillies jersey and hat.
She sits before a tray of five Philly cheesesteaks – a classic Philadelphia sandwich – with melted cheese all over her mouth.
Despite the fact that McDonald’s does not sell cheesesteaks, she is pictured with a McDonald’s soft drink.
South Dakota
Europeans seem to view people from South Dakota as older and sad
This AI image suggests that Europeans perceive people from South Dakota older and perhaps a bit despondent – as it shows a wrinkled woman dressed in traditional Native American wear staring sadly down at her four McDonald’s burgers.
Texas
Europeans see Texans as gun-toting, hyper-sexualized and conventionally attractive
Aside from Florida, Texas is the only other image that does not picture an obese woman sitting inside a restaurant eating McDonald’s.
Instead, the AI believes Europeans see Texans as gun-toting and hyper-sexualized, as this image of a conventionally attractive blonde woman wearing a low-cut dress and carrying an assault rifle suggests.
‘Being from Texas I would say this is about right,’ an X user commented.
Virginia
Europeans might see Virginians through a colonial lens
Virginia is known for its colonial history, and it appears this has influenced how Europeans see people from the tenth US state.
The AI crafted an image of a woman wearing a colonial-style dress bearing the American flag, with 18th-century curls and a bonnet. In the background, a stately mansion harkens back to early US history.
But the tray of McDonald’s burgers and fries ads modern flair.
Washington
Vermont
Europeans may see Vermonters as elderly and maple syrup-obsessed.
This state is famous for its biggest export: maple syrup.
The AI created an image of a gray-haired woman wearing a fur hat and heavy sweater, guzzling down a pitcher of maple syrup as she sits in front of three enormous stacks of McDonald’s pancakes.
This suggests that Europeans may see Vermonters as elderly and syrup-obsessed.
West Virginia
Europeans must think all people in West Virginia are coal minors
The AI image of the average person from West Virginia suggests Europeans associate them with coal mining – an industry that has a long history in this state.
The woman pictured appears to have gone straight to McDonald’s after a day in the mines, as she sits in front of 10 burgers covered in coal dust and wearing a mining helmet.
Nevada
‘As European I think they didn’t include ‘Europeans views’ anywhere. The AI is terrible sexist to. We can’t [fathom] either the size of meal, person or bigotry,’ a social media users commented on the images posted by X user Huff.
Many users questioned Huff about how they were made, with one asking if ‘engineered the prompts’ were used.
‘Just type in ‘create a photo of what Europeans think the average American citizen of [state] looks like.’ If your result doesn’t look like these, you’ve probably input the prompt incorrectly, or you’re using an obsolete AI program,’ Huff responded.
Utah
Huff also acknowledged that fact that all the ‘Americans’ are of women.
‘First, check your sexism (and possibly your misogyny), shared Huff.
‘Second, females make up 50.8% of the US population, so statistically, asking AI to create an image of an ‘average’ citizen will result in a picture of a woman every time.’
Wyoming
