The Presidency has addressed controversy surrounding a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, which featured a visible Grok watermark.
Presidential sources explained that the image, taken during a private lunch in Paris on Sunday, was not AI-generated but rather an authentic photograph enhanced through the Grok AI tool to improve its quality. Officials said the original photo was of substandard quality, prompting the decision to use the enhancement software.
The enhanced image was published on President Tinubu’s X account and later reshared by Dada Olusegun, the President’s Special Assistant on New Media. The visible Grok watermark immediately sparked online debate, with numerous Nigerians criticizing the post and questioning whether it depicted a genuine event.
“Why are you using Grok to generate a picture of what was supposed to have happened? Is it incompetence, or are you trying to tell us something?” one X user asked Olusegun directly.
The incident has ignited broader conversations about the appropriate use of AI technology in official government communications. Many observers are urging greater transparency and careful consideration when modifying images related to official state functions and diplomatic engagements.
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