🔗 Share this article Debunking Venezuelan Victory Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Maduro. AI-generated pictures purporting to portray Nicolás Maduro in custody following his apprehension by the United States have amassed countless of impressions across the internet. The Way Fake Pictures of the President Surfaced Within Hours Initial fabricated synthetic picture seemingly showing him being escorted off a aircraft circulated within hours. The picture was not shared any official US channels; rather, it was published on the platform X by an profile describing itself as an “enthusiast of AI-generated art”. We’ve checked the SynthID tool, determining the picture was generated or edited with generative AI. Further synthetic pictures started circulating in the following hours, appearing to show additional perspectives of Maduro under guard. Discernible identifying marks on these pictures reveal they were posted by an Instagram account called ultravfx. AI analysis confirms the further images were similarly generated or edited AI technology. Authentic Image Released but Fakes Continued The former US president posted the initial authentic image of Maduro restrained aboard the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday morning. However, despite the authentic image was released, AI-generated images continued to spread but were altered to show the grey athletic wear worn by Maduro. Online investigation reveal the new fake images were originally uploaded on TikTok by a digital art profile. Again, SynthID found these subsequent pictures were produced with AI tools. Important Facts: AI-generated content gained traction following the news of Maduro's capture. The first fake image was shared within hours on platform X. Tools like AI-watermark detectors were used to identify the images as inauthentic. Fabrications persisted to spread and evolve despite the release of real photographs. The origin of several fabricated images was traced to social media accounts dedicated to AI art.