🔗 Share this article Debunking Venezuela Celebration Footage and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro. Computer-created images claiming to depict Venezuela's president under arrest after his apprehension by the United States have gained tens of millions of impressions on social media. The Way AI Images of the President Surfaced Soon After The first fabricated AI image seemingly displaying him taken off a plane emerged within hours. This image was absent from any verified US channels; it was instead posted on the platform X by an profile describing itself as an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”. Verification involved Google’s SynthID, determining the image was produced or modified with Google AI. More AI-generated pictures were disseminated in the following hours, appearing to show different views of the leader in custody. Noticeable logos on these pictures indicate they came from an Instagram account called ultravfx. AI analysis says all of these images were similarly created or altered generative models. Authentic Image Released but Fabrications Continued Donald Trump released the initial authentic image of Maduro handcuffed aboard the US Navy ship on that morning. But even after this confirmation was published, synthetic pictures kept circulating but were altered to include the gray sweatsuit worn by Maduro. Online investigation indicate the new fake images were initially shared on the video platform by a graphic design profile. Again, SynthID says these subsequent pictures were generated or edited Google AI. Main Takeaways: AI-generated content gained traction following the news of Maduro's capture. The first fake image was shared very quickly on social media. Detection software like Google’s SynthID were used to confirm the pictures as AI-generated. Fake images persisted to circulate and evolve despite the publication of real photographs. The source of many fabricated images was traced to specific online accounts dedicated to AI art.