Artificial-intelligence image-generation tools can now create extremely realistic images showing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with world leaders, researchers warn, highlighting a growing misinformation threat. A new study by US disinformation watchdog NewsGuard found that AI tools produced fake photos of Epstein with several high-profile politicians in just seconds — raising concern about deepfake misuse on social media.
The research revealed that Grok Imagine, an image generator developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, generated highly convincing fake images showing Epstein alongside figures such as US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron when prompted. These AI-generated photos showed fabricated scenarios like social gatherings, beach scenes, and private jets — all of which were false.
Google’s Gemini model refused to generate an image with Trump but produced realistic fakes of Epstein with several other leaders, according to the study. Researchers say these findings are chilling because the tools can instantly create viral-ready images that many social media users may mistake for real visuals.
NewsGuard said the fake images demonstrate “the ease with which bad actors can use AI imaging tools to generate realistic-seeming viral fakes — and why fake images have become so routine that it’s difficult to tell authentic images from AI-generated images.”
Deepfakes and Misinformation: A Growing Problem
Deepfakes are one of the most prominent forms of synthetic media and misinformation today. Researchers say deepfakes can range from harmless entertainment to dangerous political propaganda and fraud, depending on how they’re used.
Fact-checking agencies have already debunked several AI-generated Epstein images being shared on social networks that falsely claimed to show public figures like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, posing with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Those images included digital watermarks identifying them as synthetic.
Experts say deepfakes pose risks beyond political deception. AI can now be used to create deepfake pornography and sexually exploitative content — prompting global concern and calls for stronger regulation. In fact, UNICEF recently urged countries to criminalise the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse images, in response to a surge in such manipulations.
Detection and Response
Tech companies are also working to fight back. For example, Google embeds invisible watermarks known as SynthID into AI-generated content to help identify fake images made with its tools. But detection remains an uphill battle, as research shows humans struggle to distinguish real from synthetic images without advanced analytical tools.
As AI tools become more advanced and accessible, observers say the public must stay vigilant and rely on trusted sources before believing or sharing sensational images.
