AI Project Reconstructs Adult Faces of Children Who Vanished During Argentina’s Military Dictatorship

A publicist in Argentina named Santiago Barros is using artificial intelligence to create images of what the children of parents who disappeared during the military dictatorship might look like as adults. Barros uploads these images to an Instagram account called iabuelas, which combines the Spanish words for artificial intelligence and grandmother. The goal is to create awareness among those over 46 who may have doubts about their origin and to remind people of the ongoing efforts to locate these missing children.

During Argentina’s military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, babies were forcefully taken from political dissidents who were detained or killed. These babies were often raised by families connected to the dictatorship. Barros combines photos of the missing parents from the public archive of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo website using an app called Midjourney to create images of what their children might look like today as adults. While the project does not replace the DNA testing efforts led by the Grandmothers group, it serves as a way to engage the public and raise awareness.

The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo estimate that around 500 children were taken from their parents during the military dictatorship, and they have located 133 grandchildren through genetic analysis. Barros’ project has been appreciated by the Grandmothers group, but they emphasize that DNA testing is the only reliable means of linking these individuals to their biological families.

Barros acknowledges that the app he uses may have its limitations, with some images showing a tendency towards standardization. However, there have been cases where families searching for their lost relatives found striking resemblances in the AI-generated images. While no formal identifications have been made from these images, the project continues to gain attention and awareness.

Keywords: Argentina, military dictatorship, missing children, artificial intelligence