PRESIDENCY REFUTES AI ALLEGATIONS OVER TINUBU–KAGAME PARIS PHOTOGRAPH

By: Fasasi Hammad
The Presidency has rejected claims that a photograph showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence, describing the reports as false and misleading.
The clarification was issued on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Temitope Ajayi, in response to widespread media coverage and social media reactions questioning the authenticity of the image.
According to the Presidency, the photograph shared by the Presidential spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on his Facebook page is authentic and was captured during an official engagement between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Paul Kagame in Paris on Sunday.
The Presidency has faulted reports suggesting that a photograph of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame taken in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
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In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Temitope Ajayi, said the narrative surrounding the image was a misrepresentation of facts. He explained that Presidents Tinubu and Kagame met in Paris on Sunday, where they had lunch together before later joining French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner the same day.
Ajayi clarified that the photograph was taken with a mobile phone, which affected its original quality. He noted that the image was subsequently enhanced using digital tools to improve clarity, stressing that this process does not amount to AI generation.
“The picture is real and not AI-generated as claimed. The photographer only used Grok afterward to enhance the image quality, which is not a basis to conclude that it was artificially generated,” he said.
He also criticised media reports that described the photograph as fake, urging journalists and editors to seek proper clarification before publishing such conclusions.
“The writer or editor should have asked questions before arriving at this wrong conclusion,” Ajayi added.
The Presidency further advised the media and the public to exercise caution and verify information before spreading claims capable of misleading the public.
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