Image of explosion at Pentagon, image later denied. /AFP.
Fake images of the explosion at the US Department of Defense briefly circulated online, causing markets to plummet for 10 minutes on Monday, further fueling concerns about the risks of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
The image, which many observers suspect was AI-generated, was shared on various social media accounts, forcing the Pentagon to officially state that no such explosion occurred.
“This is a false alarm and we can confirm that the Department of Defense was not attacked today,” said a Pentagon spokesman.
The Arlington, Virginia Fire Department also responded by posting a message on social networks assuring there were no explosions or incidents within or near the Pentagon.
The incident comes on the heels of other false image scandals that have recently caused an uproar on the internet, including the arrests of former US President Donald Trump and Pope Francis in a puffy coat jacket.
The first Twitter post to find AFP sharing such a Pentagon image came from the Q Anon movement, which supports far-right conspiracy theories and has previously shared false information. ) was of the account promoting. However, the original source of the image was never identified.
Emerging technologies such as generative AI, among others, have made it easier for non-professionals to create compelling images in an instant, without the need for training or experience to use programs like Photoshop. .
An image of the Department of Defense shared on the network influenced the market for several minutes. The expanded S&P 500 index, which comprises the top 500 companies and is a key benchmark among investors, fell 0.29% from Friday’s close before recovering again.
Source: Diario.Elmundo
