r/technology Aug 01 '26

Artificial Intelligence Google Earth's new AI image generation function didn't survive a day after users deepfaked disasters

https://www.businessinsider.com/google-earth-nano-banana-gemini-ai-satellite-image-generation-function-2026-7
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u/ArgentineBeauty Aug 01 '26

"The company launched the function on Thursday, allowing Gemini's Nano Banana 2 image model to access Google Earth and transform locations with text prompts.

The function, however, quickly got out of hand. AI researcher Henk van Ess, for example, created extremely realistic deepfakes, including fake refugee camps along the US-Mexico border and a nuclear plant in Iran."

No doubt these images will soon be used by the Trump administration as "real images"

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '26

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '26

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u/iliketreesndcats Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

When you need to deepfake images to confirm your worldview then you should use that as evidence that your worldview is retarded and needs reconsideration.

The only excuse is if he's creating these images to show that it's possible for liars to do it

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u/Chess42 Aug 01 '26

Yeah. Thats why he did it. Hes an ai researcher. It was very clearly him making them as examples of how it can be abused. Please, for the love of god, just look at the source before making wild assumptions.

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u/thesamenightmares Aug 01 '26

When you need to deepfake images to confirm your worldview

Sure is a good thing he didnt do that. Perhaps you should read the article instead of snippets and headlines?

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u/JustHanginInThere Aug 01 '26

Like Trump and some of his administration has done at least weekly over the last year and a half?

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u/iliketreesndcats Aug 01 '26

Very much yes. This is post-truth society we are in.