Hartwell Economic Development Director Brian Collins updated his LinkedIn profile Monday with a new AI-generated professional headshot that colleagues say looks remarkably polished, confident and only loosely connected to Brian Collins.
“I wanted something current,” Collins said. “My old photo was probably eight years old.”
Collins created the image using an artificial intelligence headshot service after uploading 14 photographs of himself taken at conferences, ribbon cuttings, family gatherings and one golf tournament.
Within an hour, the service returned 80 professional portraits depicting several possible versions of Collins.
“I’d say about 12 of them were definitely me,” he said.
The photograph ultimately selected for LinkedIn features Collins wearing a dark navy blazer, crisp white shirt and expression suggesting he has just successfully negotiated a $600 million semiconductor project.
His actual shirt in the source photograph was a polo.
“I really liked the confidence,” Collins said.
Colleagues agreed.
“He looks fantastic,” said Hartwell Chamber President Amy Reynolds. “I didn’t know who it was at first, but once Brian told me, I could absolutely see it.”
The AI image retains Collins’ general eye color, approximate hairstyle and what staff described as “the overall concept of Brian.”
Other features received minor technological enhancements.
His jawline is more defined.
His shoulders are broader.
His teeth appear to have undergone several years of orthodontic treatment.
And although Collins has spent his entire career in Hartwell, the background appears to contain portions of Dallas, Charlotte and possibly Singapore.
“I think it communicates economic opportunity,” Collins said.
The image also gives Collins noticeably thicker hair than his current staff photograph.
He declined to characterize that change as inaccurate.
“I would say aspirational,” he said.
LinkedIn reaction was immediate.
The new headshot received 61 likes, including comments such as “Looking sharp, Brian,” “Great photo!” and “Love the new look.”
Three longtime colleagues privately texted Collins asking what app he used.
One asked whether he had lost weight.
Another asked whether he had changed jobs.
Collins said the new image has already changed how he approaches the platform.
“I find myself commenting on posts more,” he said. “When you know that picture is sitting next to your name, there’s a certain confidence.”
Staff estimate the increase at approximately 17 percent.
Collins has since updated his profile banner, rewritten his About section and added “economic development strategist” to his professional description.
He is considering adding “thought leader.”
“We’re monitoring that,” he said.
The new headshot has created one minor issue ahead of next month’s statewide economic development conference, where Collins expects to meet several LinkedIn contacts in person for the first time.
Staff have discussed possible ways to ease the transition.
“We thought about putting the headshot on his name badge,” Reynolds said. “That may actually make things worse.”
Collins said he is not concerned.
“AI is just another tool,” he said. “It’s still me.”
Asked which version of the 80 generated photos looked most like him, Collins pointed to an image in the bottom row. That one had been rejected for appearing “a little tired.”
At press time, Hartwell’s communications coordinator was generating new staff headshots.
The finance director had somehow become 32.
