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A series of artificial intelligence-generated images falsely portraying Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child alongside his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spread widely across social media this week, prompting renewed warnings about the dangers of AI-driven misinformation.
The fabricated images began circulating on X on Monday, following the Justice Department’s release of a new tranche of Epstein-related files last Friday. The doctored photos show Mamdani at various childhood ages posed with Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and several high-profile figures including former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
An AP News review confirmed the images were artificially generated. Each contains visible digital watermarks identifying them as AI-generated content. Google’s Gemini app detected SynthID, a watermarking tool embedded by Google AI models, in all the images. The account that initially posted the photos describes itself as an “AI-powered meme engine” that creates “AI videos and memes.”
One manipulated image places Mamdani, appearing as a preteen, with Nair at the front of a nighttime group photo on a crowded city street alongside Epstein, Maxwell, Clinton, Gates, and Bezos. Another shows a younger Mamdani in a tropical setting with Maxwell’s arm around him as Epstein stands with Clinton. Additional images depict Mamdani as a baby in Nair’s arms next to Epstein and others.
The timeline of these fabricated scenarios is inconsistent with reality. Mamdani was 18 in 2009, the year his mother was mentioned in an email from publicist Peggy Siegal to Epstein describing an afterparty for a film held at Maxwell’s Manhattan townhouse. None of Epstein’s victims have publicly accused Clinton, Gates, or Bezos of involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The X account that posted the images did not respond to inquiries but appeared to acknowledge creating them in a follow-up post, writing: “I purposely made him a baby which would technically make this pic 34 years old.”
These fabricated images fueled additional false claims online, including assertions that Epstein was Mamdani’s father. In reality, Mamdani’s father is Mahmood Mamdani, an anthropology professor at Columbia University. Other posts falsely claimed Nair had been married to a relative of Epstein. She was previously married to photographer Mitch Epstein, who has no known familial ties to the disgraced financier.
On Wednesday, Mamdani addressed the circulation of the images, calling the experience “incredibly difficult.”
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes,” Mamdani said. “We also have to work to ensure that we have a city, we have a state, we have a country that actually has a regulatory system when it comes to AI, because frankly what it looks like is a system that is ill-equipped for the speed and the reach of the technologies in front of us.”
This isn’t the first time Mamdani has been targeted by AI-generated imagery in a political context. During last year’s mayoral race, an ad briefly published by Andrew Cuomo’s campaign used AI-generated images, including one depicting Mamdani eating rice with his hands. The campaign later claimed the ad was released in error.
The incident highlights growing concerns about AI’s role in spreading misinformation, particularly in political contexts. Governor Kathy Hochul recently proposed a ban on generative AI in political campaigns during her State of the State address earlier this month. Such legislation would be among the first in the nation to specifically target the use of AI in political advertising.
Mamdani has also discussed the use of AI in city schools with the schools chancellor, as the city’s education department prepares to release new classroom guidelines later this month. These discussions reflect broader concerns about AI literacy and the need for educational institutions to address the technology’s implications.
The rapid spread of these false images underscores what Mamdani described as evidence that government oversight has failed to keep pace with emerging technology, raising questions about the adequacy of current regulatory frameworks to address AI-generated misinformation in an increasingly digital public square.
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22 Comments
This case highlights the urgent need for greater regulation and oversight of AI technologies, to ensure they are not exploited for the purpose of spreading disinformation.
Absolutely. As AI capabilities continue to advance, we must proactively address the potential risks and develop robust frameworks to mitigate the misuse of these powerful tools.
Disturbing how AI-generated images can be used to spread misinformation. We should be vigilant about verifying the authenticity of online content, especially when it involves public figures.
Agreed. The manipulation of photos to create false narratives is a serious concern in the digital age.
The use of AI to create false images and spread misinformation is a concerning development that undermines public trust. We must remain vigilant and work to counter these emerging threats.
I agree. Educating the public and implementing effective policies to address the challenges posed by synthetic media should be a top priority for policymakers and tech companies.
This case demonstrates the urgent need for improved media literacy and critical thinking skills, as the ability to manipulate visual content with AI poses significant challenges for fact-checking and information verification.
Absolutely. Empowering the public to navigate the digital landscape and identify synthetic media is crucial in the fight against online deception and misinformation.
The proliferation of AI-generated misinformation is a concerning trend that undermines trust in public institutions and the integrity of information. Stronger safeguards and public awareness are needed.
I couldn’t agree more. The ability to create realistic-looking yet fabricated content poses significant challenges for maintaining an informed and engaged citizenry.
The use of AI to create false images is a concerning trend that highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and use of these technologies.
I agree. Responsible innovation and effective regulation are essential to ensure AI is not exploited for the purpose of spreading disinformation and undermining public trust.
The use of AI to create false images is a disturbing development that highlights the need for better regulation and public awareness around these technologies.
I agree. Mitigating the risks of AI-driven disinformation should be a top priority for policymakers and tech companies.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of verifying the authenticity of online content, especially when it involves sensitive information or public figures.
Absolutely. The proliferation of AI-generated misinformation is a serious threat to our information ecosystem, and we must work together to find solutions.
This is a troubling example of how easily AI can be misused to fabricate false claims. We need stronger safeguards and education to combat the rising threat of synthetic media.
Absolutely. As AI capabilities advance, the potential for abuse only increases. Responsible development and oversight of these technologies is critical.
It’s alarming to see how AI-generated images can be used to spread disinformation. We must remain vigilant and fact-check claims, especially those involving public figures.
Exactly. The proliferation of synthetic media is a worrying trend that undermines trust in information and democratic institutions.
This case illustrates the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking in the digital age, where even visual evidence can be easily manipulated by AI.
Absolutely. We must be vigilant and develop robust strategies to identify and counter the spread of synthetic media and other forms of online deception.