AI-Generated ‘Selfie’ Of Rahul Gandhi With Woman Shared As Real

A purported photograph of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with a woman, allegedly from his recent visit to Malaysia, is going viral on social media, with some users claiming that the woman is his former partner Veronique Cartelli. The viral selfie was shared by several right-wing social media accounts, including former BJP Delhi spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal. Archived links of these posts can be viewed here, here, here and here.

However, a fact-check reveals the image is not real, but artificially created using AI tools.

Evidence

Visual Inconsistencies

• Reflection on the woman’s sunglasses extends unnaturally.
• Background wall panels lack natural texture.
• Rahul Gandhi’s eyes appear distorted, a common flaw seen in AI-generated photographs.

Expert Analysis

The picture was tested with multiple tools:

• Was It AI flagged the photo as AI generated.
• AI or Not and Is It AI reported a 95% likelihood of AI creation. Tools suggested it may have been created using OpenAI’s GPT-4o model.

Similar Tools Available Online

Our investigation also found platforms that allow users to create “selfies with celebrities” using AI. By uploading personal images along with a celebrity photo or pictures of two individuals, these tools can generate casual street-style selfies. Several tutorials demonstrating this process are freely available online and can be seen here, here, here, and here.

Verdict

The viral image claiming to show Rahul Gandhi taking a selfie with a woman in Malaysia is AI-generated. It is not an authentic photo and is being shared with misleading claims.

FAQs

Q1. What tools flagged this photo as fake?
Tools such as Was It AI, AI or Not, and Is It AI confirmed the photo had a high likelihood of being AI-generated.

Q2. Why do people create such fake images?
Such images are often made to mislead audiences, push political narratives, or attract attention on social media.

Sources

Deepfake Analysis Unit
Was It AI
AI or Not
Is It AI
Youtube Video By Yashwant Sai Palaghat
Instagram Video By Adifactech
Youtube Video By Yashwant Sai Palaghat