From Congratulatory Post To AI Pageant: UKM Prof Poster Sparks Makeover Challenge
Critics questioned the design, but FTSM UKM turned the viral moment into an AI contest — with Prof Dr Zarina herself offering the prize.
- FTSM UKM turned criticism of Prof Dr Zarina's congratulatory poster into a fun AI makeover contest with prizes.
- The contest invited the public to reimagine the poster using AI, with the most-liked entry winning a special prize.
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What started as a congratulatory Facebook post for Prof Dr Zarina Shukur’s reappointment at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has unexpectedly turned into an AI-powered makeover contest.
The buzz began after many netizens criticised the choice and execution of the graphic used in the announcement poster, arguing that it did not reflect the capabilities of UKM’s Faculty of Information Science and Technology (FTSM).
Instead of letting the criticism spiral, FTSM UKM decided to embrace the internet’s creativity by launching a friendly contest inviting the public to reimagine the poster using artificial intelligence.
Under the competition, the AI-generated image of Prof Dr Zarina that garners the highest number of likes will earn its creator a special prize personally sponsored by Prof Zarina herself.
While no official tally was kept on the number of AI-generated entries submitted by netizens, the contest clearly struck a chord online, with engagement steadily rising as the submission deadline approached at 5pm today.
Social media users wasted no time showcasing their creativity, producing countless alternative versions ranging from corporate-style portraits to magazine-worthy headshots.
However, not everyone agreed that the original image deserved the criticism.
Several netizens came to Prof Zarina’s defence though, insisting that the photograph accurately reflected her personal style and fashion choices, and that there was nothing inherently wrong with the original poster.
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