New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair were falsely depicted in AI-generated images circulating on social media Monday, appearing with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and others. The images, which also included figures like former President Bill Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, quickly spread after a recent release of Epstein-related documents by the Justice Department on Friday.
AI-Generated Fabrications
The images originated on an X account self-described as a parody account creating “high quality AI videos and memes.” They are clearly identified as AI-generated through digital watermarks detected by Google’s Gemini app, using a tool called SynthID. One image shows Mamdani and Nair alongside Maxwell, Epstein, Clinton, Bezos, and Gates, seemingly posing on a city street. Another depicts Epstein holding Clinton while Maxwell’s arm is around Mamdani.
Further AI-generated images show Mamdani as an infant being held by Nair alongside Epstein, Clinton, Maxwell, and Bezos. Accompanying these images were false claims, including assertions that Epstein was Mamdani’s father – a claim refuted by the fact that Mamdani’s father is Mahmood Mamdani, an anthropology professor at Columbia University. Another false claim alleged a familial connection between Nair and Epstein, which is also untrue; Nair was previously married to photographer Mitch Epstein.
Context of the Images
The circulation of these images followed the emergence of an email from publicist Peggy Siegal detailing a 2009 afterparty at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse attended by Clinton, Bezos, and Nair. However, Mamdani was 18 years old in 2009, contradicting the images depicting him as a young child or infant.
Notably, no victims of Epstein have publicly accused Clinton, Gates, or Bezos of involvement in his crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the images claiming to show?
The images falsely claimed to show New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child and his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, with Jeffrey Epstein and other public figures.
Where did the images originate?
The images originated on an X account labeled as parody, which describes itself as an “AI-powered meme engine.”
How were the images identified as fake?
The images contain digital watermarks identifying them as AI-generated, and were detected as such by Google’s Gemini app. The account itself acknowledged creating the images.
As AI technology continues to evolve, how might the public better discern between authentic and fabricated content online?
