外刊《华盛顿邮报》泛读39:当 AI 伪造历史--教育中虚假图片的风险(文化教育评论)

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外刊《华盛顿邮报》泛读39：当 AI 伪造历史--教育中虚假图片的风险（文化教育评论）

私家英语

基础信息

主要内容

本文聚焦美国教育部长麦克马洪使用AI 生成虚假历史人物照片事件：她在社交媒体致敬民权领袖艾达・B・韦尔斯时，使用了 AI 制作的、与史实严重不符的图片（羽毛笔、烛光，而韦尔斯时代已用金属笔与煤气灯）。历史学家严厉批评此举违背历史求真精神，误导公众与学生。文章探讨 AI 在历史传播中的双重性：高效便捷但易失真，强调教育中必须坚守历史真实性、严谨审核AI 内容，培养学生批判性思维。

英文原文（约 860 词）

When AI Fakes History: The Risks of Inaccurate Images in Education

US Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently faced wide criticism for posting an AI-generated image of civil rights icon Ida B. Wells on social media. The picture, made by Google’s Gemini, showed Wells writing with a quill pen by candlelight. But historians immediately pointed out the mistake: during Wells’ lifetime in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people used metal dip pens and gas lights, not quills or candles.

Worse still, real and accurate historical photographs of Wells exist in archives and museums. By choosing a fake AI image instead, McMahon damaged the very values Wells stood for—truth, honesty, and fighting against false representations. Biographer Paula Giddings said that using AI-made pictures undermines Wells’ lifelong mission to tell true stories and expose injustice.

This incident is part of a growing problem: AI is increasingly used to create false historical content. McMahon has used AI images for other historical women, including Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth, even though real photos are easily found. She also shared an AI-generated map of colonial America with serious geographical errors, showing states in completely wrong locations.

Historians and educators warn that such mistakes harm education. Students who see false images may form wrong ideas about the past and lose respect for historical facts. Sarah Weicksel of the American Historical Association said AI-produced materials are often unreliable and damage the quality of educational resources.

The incident raises important questions about responsibility in the age of AI. While artificial intelligence can save time and create attractive materials, it cannot replace careful research and respect for history. Experts agree that schools and officials must check AI content carefully before using it, especially in education.

Beyond simple errors, fake historical images can weaken public trust in history itself. When facts are mixed with fiction, people may doubt real records and reliable sources. For students, learning to tell the difference between true history and AI fantasy becomes an important part of modern education.

Ida B. Wells spent her life seeking truth and fighting unfairness. The controversy over her AI portrait teaches a clear lesson: technology must serve truth, not replace it. In education and public communication, respecting historical facts remains more important than convenience or speed.

生词中英文梳理

全文翻译

当 AI 伪造历史：教育中虚假图片的风险

美国教育部长琳达・麦克马洪近日因在社交媒体发布AI 生成的民权偶像艾达・B・韦尔斯图片而遭受广泛批评。这张由谷歌Gemini 制作的图片显示韦尔斯在烛光下用羽毛笔写作，但历史学家立即指出错误：韦尔斯生活在 19 世纪末 20 世纪初，当时人们已使用金属蘸水笔和煤气灯，而非羽毛笔与蜡烛。

更严重的是，档案馆和博物馆中真实、准确的韦尔斯照片大量存在。麦克马洪选择虚假 AI 图片，违背了韦尔斯一生坚守的价值观 —— 真相、诚实、反对虚假描述。韦尔斯传记作者葆拉・吉丁斯表示，使用 AI 图片损害了韦尔斯毕生追求真实故事、揭露不公的使命。

这一事件反映了日益严重的问题：AI 正被大量用于制造虚假历史内容。麦克马洪还为苏珊・B・安东尼、索杰纳・特鲁思等历史女性使用 AI 图片，尽管真实照片极易获取。她还发布过 AI 生成的殖民时期美国地图，地理错误严重，州的位置完全错乱。

历史学家与教育工作者警告，此类错误危害教育。看到虚假图片的学生可能形成错误历史认知，丧失对历史事实的尊重。美国历史协会的莎拉・韦克塞尔指出，AI 制作的材料通常不可靠，损害教育资源质量。

该事件引发了 AI 时代责任的重要思考：人工智能虽能节省时间、制作精美素材，但无法替代严谨研究与对历史的尊重。专家一致认为，学校与官员使用 AI 内容前必须严格审核，尤其在教育领域。

除简单错误外，虚假历史图片还会削弱公众对历史本身的信任。当事实与虚构混杂，人们可能怀疑真实档案与可靠来源。对学生而言，学会区分真实历史与 AI 虚构，成为现代教育的重要内容。

艾达・B・韦尔斯一生追求真相、抗争不公。这张 AI 肖像引发的争议给出明确启示：技术必须服务于真相，而非取代真相。在教育与公共传播中，尊重历史事实远比便捷与速度更重要。

语法填空

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

US Education Secretary Linda McMahon faced 1_______ (wide) criticism for posting an AI-generated image 2_______ Ida B. Wells.

The picture showed Wells 3_______ (write) with a quill pen, 4_______ was historically inaccurate.

Real photos of Wells are available in 5_______ (archive), but McMahon used a fake image instead, 6_______ (damage) Wells’ legacy.

Such mistakes harm education because students may form 7_______ (correct) ideas about the past.

Experts suggest AI content should 8_______ (check) carefully before use.

The incident raises questions about 9_______ (responsible) in the age of AI.

Respecting historical 10_______ (true) remains important in education.

答案与解析

1. widely

考查：副词

解析：修饰形容词 criticism，用副词。

1. of

考查：介词

解析：an image of… 表示“…… 的照片”。

1. writing

考查：非谓语（现在分词）

解析：show sb. doing sth. 看见某人正在做某事。

1. which

考查：定语从句

解析：引导非限制性定语从句，指代前文内容。

1. archives

考查：名词复数

解析：in archives 在档案馆中，用复数。

1. damaging

考查：非谓语（现在分词结果状语）

解析：作结果状语，表示 “从而破坏”。

1. incorrect

考查：形容词（否定前缀）

解析：形成错误观念，用 correct 的反义词。

1. be checked

考查：被动语态

解析：内容被检查，用被动形式。

1. responsibility

考查：名词（词形转换）

解析：about 后接名词，表示 “责任”。

1. truth

考查：名词

解析：historical truth 历史真相。