Washington Lottery’s AI Website Creates Topless Photo of a User

Generative AI's image-creation abilities are all fun and games... until it makes a disturbing image of you.

Washington Lottery, the state's official lottery system, has formally closed down its website "Test Drive a Win" following a user's complaint about the tool generating a topless photo of her.

The website, which utilizies generative AI, allowed users to upload selfies to create AI-generated images of themselves in exotic locations, which could potentially help them win the lottery.

Users must throw a dart on a board that showed dream vacation spots that they could, in theory, visit if they won the lottery.

It will then create a AI-generated picture of them on the trip using a photo they uploaded of themselves — hence, "test drive."

What Went Down?

Launched as a marketing campaign by creative agency VML Seattle, the app functioned without incident for a month until a user reported receiving an inappropriate image.

The concerned user, identified as a 50-year-old mother from Tumwater, Washington, claimed the AI-powered website generated a topless image of her. 

EXCLUSIVE: Washington’s Lottery forced to pull down its site after creating AI porn of lotto user. https://t.co/7vhmsAvEtn

— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) April 3, 2024

The image was sent to Seattle KTTH radio station, which then posted a censored version of it.

The woman voiced her shock and criticized the use of taxpayer money for such a campaign, demanding accountability.

Washington Lottery Responds

As a result of the unsettling events, Washington's Lottery has taken down the app, emphasizing that strict parameters were set for image creation.

"We were made aware that a single user of the AI platform was purportedly provided an image that did not adhere to those guidelines. This campaign was launched more than a month ago and has had thousands of images created that all fall within the prescribed guidelines," a spokesperson for the Washington Lottery explained.

"Regardless, one purported user is too many and as a result, we have shut down the site."

I tried to access the website myself Thursday afternoon, but the landing page would only prompt a message saying that the website could no longer be accessed.

The app came as part of Washington Lottery's broader campaign utilizing generative AI across various media platforms, including TV spots and billboards, depicting individuals in exotic destinations.

Editing by Katherine 'Makkie' Maclang