AI-altered photos and videos circulating after a deadly federal shooting in Minneapolis are rapidly distorting public understanding of what actually happened. What began as social media users attempting to “clarify” blurry footage has instead triggered a wave of misleading content viewed by tens of millions across major platforms.
Since last weekend, manipulated images and videos claiming to show the final moments of Alex Pretti have spread across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X—often blurring the line between verified evidence and artificial fabrication.
Why AI-Altered Photos and Videos Are So Dangerous
Unlike obvious deepfakes, many of these AI-altered photos and videos are based on real, verified footage. AI tools “enhance” grainy visuals, adding fabricated details that appear realistic enough to mislead even cautious viewers.
One widely shared still image—viewed over 9 million times on X—shows Pretti collapsing as a federal officer points a weapon at his back. The image was later flagged as AI-enhanced, yet included glaring errors, such as an ICE officer appearing without a head.
Despite these distortions, the image briefly entered mainstream political discourse.
When AI-Altered Media Reaches the US Senate
The manipulated image was displayed by Dick Durbin during a speech on the Senate floor. Durbin’s office later acknowledged the mistake, saying staff did not realize the photo had been edited using AI.
The incident highlights how AI-altered photos and videos can bypass traditional credibility filters—moving from social feeds to national institutions in a matter of hours.
Viral AI Videos Add More Confusion
Beyond still images, several AI-generated or AI-enhanced videos have also gone viral:
- A TikTok clip showing Pretti speaking calmly with an ICE officer
- A Facebook video depicting a police officer accidentally firing Pretti’s weapon
The Facebook post alone amassed 44 million views and was later labeled as “AI-enhanced.” However, authorities have not confirmed that any officer fired Pretti’s gun in that incident.
Experts Warn of a Growing Misinformation Crisis
According to Ben Colman, CEO of Reality Defender, the surge in AI-altered photos and videos is alarming—but predictable.
“Over the last couple of months, we’ve seen a significant uptick in AI-generated ‘enhancements’ of blurry photos,” Colman said. “These are still deepfakes—crude approximations at best and outright fabrications at worst.”
Colman warned that viral fake images distract from verified facts and actively damage public trust.
The ‘Liar’s Dividend’ Effect Is Taking Hold
The flood of AI-altered photos and videos has also produced a dangerous side effect: skepticism toward real evidence. Some users are now falsely labeling authentic footage as AI-generated—a phenomenon experts call the liar’s dividend, where bad actors dismiss genuine proof by claiming it’s fake.
Three videos independently verified by NBC News show Pretti in an altercation with federal immigration agents days before his death. Yet even these verified clips are being dismissed online as “AI-generated.”
On X, the platform’s AI assistant Grok has incorrectly suggested that some authentic footage “appears to be AI-altered,” further muddying the information landscape.
A New Normal for Breaking News?
Surges in AI-altered photos and videos during breaking news events are becoming increasingly common. As AI tools grow more powerful and accessible, misinformation and disinformation now spread faster—and look more convincing—than ever before.
For news consumers, the challenge is growing sharper: there are still few reliable tools available to accurately determine whether content has been manipulated by AI.
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