As artificial intelligence continues to influence how people are portrayed and perceived, one critical question comes to the forefront: How can technology reflect humanity in all its richness and diversity?
For TECNO, the answer lies in creating technology that enables people to be seen more truthfully. Guided by this vision, the global technology brand has partnered with renowned Brazilian visual artist Angélica Dass to introduce “100 Portraits of Becoming,” a two-year international initiative that will span five countries, beginning today in Nairobi, Kenya.
A Global Initiative That Celebrates Humanity
Developed in collaboration with Angélica Dass, “100 Portraits of Becoming” seeks to document 100 authentic portraits of individuals from around the world while capturing the personal journeys that have shaped who they are today.
Representing diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences, the project aims to celebrate the richness of humanity while encouraging meaningful conversations about identity, dignity, authentic representation, and what it means to become oneself in an age increasingly shaped by AI.
The collaboration combines TECNO’s advancements in inclusive imaging technology with Dass’s people centered approach to portrait photography. Together, they seek to redefine representation, not merely as visual accuracy but as genuine recognition of every individual’s unique story.
“Every image shapes assumptions — why it matters, who matters, and how people are understood. That makes fair and accurate representation increasingly important in the AI era. But beyond representation lies a bigger question: who is the real person behind the image?” said Jack Guo, General Manager at TECNO.
“Through this project, we want to move beyond representation as technical accuracy alone and explore representation as recognition — enabling technology not only to capture people faithfully, but to help people feel truly seen. By moving beyond bias, labels, and stereotypes, we hope to build a future where technology reflects people more authentically and allows the world to understand them more fully. Truthful representation is the foundation of genuine human understanding.”
Angélica Dass echoed the project’s deeper purpose.
“As a photographer, I realize that I can be a channel for others to communicate. The ‘100 Portraits of Becoming’ initiative with TECNO creates such a channel for people to speak for themselves and be seen on their own terms. That is why this collaboration with TECNO felt meaningful to me,” she said.
“My portrait practice has always been less about documenting appearance and more about creating space for people to exist beyond assumptions. What moved me about this collaboration is the shared vision and the possibility of bringing that intention into a medium used by millions every day. I am excited that this initiative is not about defining people — it is about allowing identity to remain open, layered, and human. Because being visible is not the same as being understood. True recognition begins when we are seen as we really are.”
Angélica Dass and Her Vision of Human Identity
The partnership is a natural extension of Dass’s long standing exploration of identity through photography and TECNO’s commitment to creating more inclusive imaging technologies.
An award winning Brazilian Spanish visual artist, Dass is internationally recognized for Humanæ, a portrait project that challenges traditional perceptions of race by highlighting the vast spectrum of human skin tones. Rather than reducing individuals to categories, her work emphasizes each person’s uniqueness and encourages viewers to look beyond labels.
Through portraiture, Dass transforms skin tone into a gateway for personal storytelling instead of a defining characteristic. Her influential work has reached audiences worldwide, including more than two million viewers through her 2016 TED Talk on skin and identity. She has also presented her work at globally respected institutions such as the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the Migration Museum in London, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Her work has likewise been featured in publications including National Geographic, Vogue, and Foreign Affairs.
“One thing I appreciate about the ‘100 Portraits of Becoming’ initiative is our shared belief that portraiture is not simply about recording appearance visually. It is a way of questioning assumptions, challenging labels, and creating space for people to be seen and understood beyond stereotypes.”
A Living Archive Across Five Countries
The initiative will see Dass photograph 100 individuals across five countries, beginning in Kenya.
Participants register through a dedicated global website before taking part in portrait sessions conducted using natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice. This approach ensures every portrait remains authentic and true to each participant.
Beyond the photographs themselves, participants will also share personal stories about their journeys, reflecting on the experiences, challenges, and cultural influences that have shaped their identities.
Together, these portraits and narratives will become part of an evolving online Living Archive, a digital collection that gives people from different walks of life the opportunity to be seen, heard, and understood. The archive is designed to encourage ongoing conversations about identity, dignity, and representation as AI continues to transform visual storytelling.
TECNO Universal Tone Powers Inclusive Imaging
Every portrait in the initiative will be captured using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, powered by TECNO Universal Tone technology, which serves as the project’s foundation for authentic and inclusive representation.
For years, many AI powered imaging systems have relied on training datasets that represent only a limited range of skin tones and beauty standards. This has often resulted in inaccurate portrayals of people with darker or non fair complexions, whose images may appear over brightened, underexposed, or otherwise altered from their true appearance.
Introduced in 2023, TECNO Universal Tone is the industry’s most advanced AI powered full spectrum skin tone imaging technology. It combines TECNO’s benchmark multi skin tone color card featuring 372 skin tones with the industry’s largest and most accurate skin tone database, which continues to expand.
By enabling more faithful reproduction across the full spectrum of human skin tones, Universal Tone supports the initiative’s mission of fairness, authenticity, and respect. It helps ensure participants are represented as they truly are instead of being adjusted to fit a narrow visual standard.
Beginning in Kenya, Expanding to the World
The project’s first stop is Kenya, a country chosen for its dynamic blend of youthful innovation, cultural diversity, and technological leadership.
Often referred to as the “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya has become a global example of innovation, from pioneering mobile financial services to nurturing homegrown technology companies. Yet despite this progress, representations of the country in global media and AI generated imagery frequently remain shaped by outdated assumptions rather than lived realities.
“100 Portraits of Becoming” starts from a different perspective. People should define themselves through their own stories.
Its first participants include entrepreneurs, artists, dancers, farmers, and creators whose lives demonstrate that identity cannot be reduced to stereotypes or single narratives.
“People are always quick to tell you what you are and where you fit,” said Alexander Odhiambo, a Kenyan participant in “100 Portraits of Becoming” and co founder of Solutech Limited, an enterprise software company serving manufacturers and distributors across Africa. “I stopped waiting for that. The story that counts is the one I’m writing myself.”
Following its launch in Nairobi, the initiative will continue over the next two years with stops in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first portraits and personal stories will be published online in early August, marking the beginning of the campaign’s global rollout.
Ultimately, “100 Portraits of Becoming” is about more than photography or technology. It is a reminder that the future of imaging should not only help people see more. It should also help them understand more.
Across five countries, one hundred portraits, and countless personal stories, the initiative offers a powerful invitation to see humanity with greater authenticity, empathy, and understanding, one portrait at a time.
