Before you go donating to hurricane relief efforts, beware: Those heart wrenching images of survivors you see on social media might not be real at all.
The Better Business Bureau is out with a new warning that some people are using artificial intelligence to create fake storm relief images on social media.
Thousands of well-meaning people have been sharing photos that supposedly depict the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's destruction -- but are actually fake images generated by AI, according to Virginia Tech.
One image that went viral shows a young girl with tears in her eyes, clutching a puppy in her arms as she's rescued by boat from a flooded street. Numerous posts with the image claim that more money is going to help Ukraine or toward "illegal aliens" than to the hurricane victims.
While the image may hit you right in the feels, it's completely fake. There's even a second version of the image, at a different angle, that shows the same girl in the same boat, but holding a different colored puppy and wearing a different life jacket.
"These are tragic situations," said BBB Spokesperson Carl Bates told WBRC. "To share those doesn't help the situation, doesn't help the people who are actually involved in it. It can only hurt, and there's a lot of tragedy going on right now with both storms, Helene and now Milton, and you know it's just not something that should be done."
Photos like the crying girl demonstrate current challenges with disinformation and social media -- namely that AI technology is providing greater ability to create realistic images that are deceptive, according to Cayce Myers, professor of public relations at Virginia Tech.
"The problem is these fake images influence peoples' perception of reality, and social media fuels the spread of this disinformation. The net effect can be harmful to society, especially when dealing with important issues like democracy and public health," Myers said in a statement.
Because generative AI capabilities are advancing at an incredible rate, it is becoming very hard to spot fakes. But the BBB has some suggestions.
Tips for recognizing AI-generated images
Look at the context for red flags. The most reliable cause for suspicion may be the context in which you see a potentially faked image or hear a voice. Ask yourself these kinds of questions: is the image being used with pressure to take an urgent action, one that seems questionable, such as sending money to a stranger, or through an unexpected or odd payment mechanism? Is the context political, and does it seem like someone is trying to make you feel angry or emotional?
Find a high-resolution image and zoom in. Search the image in the highest-possible resolution and then zoom in. You'll likely find a few giveaways if you're looking at an AI-generated image.
Consider asymmetry and other physical inconsistencies - but be careful. Asymmetry in human faces, teeth and hands are common issue with poor quality AI images. You might notice hands with extra (or not enough) fingers too. Another telltale sign is unnatural body proportions, such as ears, fingers or feet that are disproportionately large or small.
Strange textures or a glossy effect. AI images often have textured backgrounds or an airbrushed look that real photos don't share. You might also notice strange-looking backgrounds or sharp images with random blurry spots.
How to verify that a photo is authentic
Check the source. Try to trace the photo back to the original post to see who shared the image and why they shared it. If it shows shocking political events or messages, ask yourself if the news is on social media or mainstream media. Why might mainstream media be hesitant to pick up the story? It's probably fake news corroborated by AI-generated images.
Do a reverse image search. If you're having trouble figuring out where an image came from, try a reverse image search. This can bring up all the websites where the image has been shared, which can help you understand the context of the image and its origins.