Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Does anyone have proof that the McConnell photo and message are real? [View all]icnorth
(1,051 posts)18. Is the photo A/I generated? The Cincinnati Enquirer, /2026/07/10
"The image is AI generated
OpenAI's verification tool detected a SynthID on the photo, which is a watermark automatically added to photos so they can be identified as AI-generated content.
An AI-generated photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell in a hospital bed has been circulating online.
The image was identified as fake by OpenAI's verification tool and has visual inconsistencies.
The fake photo appeared while McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14 for an unconfirmed reason.
McConnell has a history of health issues, including polio, a triple-bypass surgery, and several falls..."
" ~The Cincinnati Enquirer is a morning daily newspaper published by USA Today Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States."
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
71 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Does anyone have proof that the McConnell photo and message are real? [View all]
Kablooie
18 hrs ago
OP
stop. they have NO crediility. An easily photoshopped image proves nothing.
Blues Heron
18 hrs ago
#8
I'm an IT professional with 25 years of experience. You are in no position to lecture me about photoshopping.
FascismIsDeath
18 hrs ago
#16
I've used photoshop and I have experience with using AI to generate photos or inpaint things into photos.
FascismIsDeath
18 hrs ago
#23
the proof is that there is no video, meeting, phone call or anything OTHER than a crude photo with the newspaper
Blues Heron
17 hrs ago
#24
yes opinion. Mitch owes his constituents an explanation, they cough up a photo. Public opinion says not good enough
Blues Heron
17 hrs ago
#43
I taught photoshop for 29 years. The image is obviously fake. Check out the details on the newspaper.
diane in sf
17 hrs ago
#37
If you think that was a "nasty" comment, then I suggest you re-evaluate what you consider nasty.
FascismIsDeath
18 hrs ago
#17
Given I have no clue what your gender is, accusing me of mansplaining is also silly.
FascismIsDeath
17 hrs ago
#27
Gemini is a pretty shitty model for that. There are models trained specifically for that task.
FascismIsDeath
16 hrs ago
#58
The claim that it was from 2023 seems to be Facebook manufactured bullshit.
FascismIsDeath
16 hrs ago
#59
This is so silly, all they have to do is let a reporter talk to him in person. He looks up to it based on the photo.
Blues Heron
18 hrs ago
#10
If he were really ok, he would invite a news crew & BIpartisan coworkers to visit. Live.
SheltieLover
16 hrs ago
#53
That is not the meaning of the quote- it's not about the liars, it's about those being lied to
Fiendish Thingy
17 hrs ago
#42
I don't believe it was AI, but this man been on his last leg for a long time
MerryBlooms
17 hrs ago
#45