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Computer-created graphics claiming to portray Venezuela's president in custody following his apprehension by the United States have gained tens of millions of views across the internet.

The Way AI Images of the President Emerged Rapidly

Initial fake AI image apparently displaying him led off a aircraft circulated a brief time later. The graphic was not shared any authoritative American sources; it was instead posted on the platform X by an account purporting to be an “AI video art enthusiast”.

Verification involved Google’s SynthID, which found the image was generated or edited with Google AI.

Additional AI-generated images were disseminated in the following period, appearing to show more angles of Maduro detained. Visible watermarks on these images indicate they came from an Instagram account named ultravfx.

The detection tool confirms the further images were also generated or edited generative models.

Real Photo Released but Fakes Persisted

The former US president shared the initial authentic image of Nicolás Maduro restrained aboard the USS Iwo Jima on that morning. Yet following this real photo was made public, synthetic images kept circulating but were updated to include the grey tracksuit seen on Maduro.

Reverse image searches reveal these updated fakes were initially shared on the video platform by a graphic design profile. Again, analysis says the new graphics were generated or edited generative artificial intelligence.

Important Facts:

• Deepfakes circulated quickly following the announcement of Maduro's capture.
• The initial fabricated image was shared within hours on social media.
• Tools like Google’s SynthID helped to verify the pictures as synthetic.
• Fabrications continued to spread and evolve even after the publication of real images.
• The origin of many fabricated images was linked to specific online accounts dedicated to AI art.