DeSantis ad uses fake AI images of Trump hugging and kissing Fauci, experts say

[usonian]

Trump/Fauci Images have strange hair, garbled text, and unnatural body parts.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/06/desantis-ad-uses-fake-ai-images-of-trump-hugging-and-kissing-fauci-experts-say/


Screenshot from Ron DeSantis ad shows a collage of real and fake images.

A Ron DeSantis presidential campaign video shows three pictures of Donald Trump hugging and kissing Anthony Fauci, all of which seem to be fake images generated by artificial intelligence. One professor told Ars today that there is "no doubt" the ad uses fake AI images.

As reported by AFP yesterday, media forensics experts say the images, which the DeSantis ad passed off as photographs taken during Trump's presidency, have telltale signs of AI. Even non-experts may notice oddities, such as incomprehensible text on a sign that should say "White House" and "Washington."

Of course, another giveaway is that then-President Trump and Fauci weren't really on hugging and kissing terms. Trump repeatedly attacked Fauci and resisted measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci, who is now retired, was the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The DeSantis video advertisement released Monday slams Trump for not firing Fauci. About halfway through, there is a collage of six images (seen at the top of this article) of Trump and Fauci.

Hey Ron! Is your campaign song:

Trump and Fauci in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G

More "tells" at the URL.

[GreenWave]

1. Seems legit

Like Cruz's dad and Lee Harvey Oswald.

[Tommy Carcetti]

2. These people are so weird.

Both of them.

They somehow fail the human test.

[kysrsoze]

3. IMO deepfakes could potentially destroy our society. As AI gets more powerful, fake pics and vids...

will become extremely difficult to debunk. And once they're out in public, it's likely they will be accepted as fact before they can be de-bunked.

With shitheads like DeSantis and others not having any issue with telling outright lies and allowing things like this to circulate, this technology would result in the end of objective end of truth, 1984-style. Something like this needs to be made illegal, with severe penalties, but eventually anyone will be able to create leak and something like this.

BTW - how could anyone describe Dump's hair as strange, as opposed to how freakish it looks all the time?

[TheRealNorth]

8. When you can't tell what is the truth....

People will default to their "gut" feelings.

[Lovie777]

4. The out of touch GQP cult .......................

from reality might believe it.

[Woodwizard]

5. There needs to be serious consequences.

For using AI to effect the outcome of public opinion for anyone. Double for political gain.

[tanyev]

6. I'm sure Donny will respond to that with the careful, measured communication

for which he’s so well known.

LOL.

[Takket]

7. Being nice to fauci is actually a selling point for the MAJORITY of Americans

But you do you, Ron.

[Chainfire]

9. It is from a leading Republican figure, it is not expected to be true.