Exposing Venezuela Celebration Videos and AI-Generated Pictures of Nicolás Maduro.

AI-generated images purporting to show Venezuela's president detained after his capture by the United States have amassed countless of views online.

How AI Images of Maduro Appeared Within Hours

Initial fabricated synthetic picture apparently showing him taken off a aircraft circulated a brief time later. This image was not shared any official American sources; rather, it was posted on X by an profile describing itself as an “AI video art enthusiast”.

Our analysis used the SynthID tool, determining the picture was created or altered with Google AI.

Further synthetic pictures were disseminated in the subsequent period, seemingly depicting more angles of the leader in custody. Visible watermarks on the graphics reveal they came from an Instagram profile called ultravfx.

AI analysis confirms these additional pictures were also generated or edited generative models.

Authentic Image Released but Fabrications Continued

Donald Trump posted the first real photo of Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs aboard the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday morning. Yet following this real photo was made public, AI-generated pictures persisted online but were modified to incorporate the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.

Digital forensics show these updated fakes were initially shared on the video platform by a graphic design profile. Again, the AI-watermark detector says the new graphics were produced with AI tools.

Important Facts:

• AI-generated content spread rapidly after the events of the president's apprehension.
• The initial fabricated picture was shared very quickly on social media.
• Tools like AI-watermark detectors helped to verify the pictures as synthetic.
• Fake images continued to circulate and evolve despite the publication of real photographs.
• The origin of several fabricated images was linked to specific online accounts dedicated to graphic design.