A fake, AI-generated image of Pope Francis stepping out in a stylish white puffer jacket and bejewelled crucifix racked up millions of views over the weekend – with many mistaking it for a real image.
Experts fear the rapidly developing technology behind the image could soon undermine our ability to distinguish fake photos, which can be generated in seconds, from reality.
While he made clear they were created by an AI, other users copied the images and spread them without such attribution.
Mr Higgins later said he had been banned from using the AI tool by its creators.
Making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trump's arrest. pic.twitter.com/4D2QQfUpLZ — Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) March 20, 2023.
“A lot of that image looks really good, especially at a first glance people might think the Pope is really adopting the Italian fashion sense.”.
He said: “I genuinely laughed and thought what a weird thing for the Pope to wear, I didn’t even realise it was fake. »
