--- title: "Seemingly AI-Generated Image of Pentagon Explosion Caused Stock Market to Dip" description: "A likely AI-generated image of a fake explosion at the Pentagon garnered so much attention on Twitter that the stock market briefly fell." date: "2023-05-22" modified: "2023-05-22" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/ai-image-pentagon-explosion" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "image generator" - "misinformation" - "the digest" --- # Seemingly AI-Generated Image of Pentagon Explosion Caused Stock Market to Dip ![A likely AI-generated image of a fake explosion at the Pentagon garnered so much attention on Twitter that the stock market briefly fell.]() *\Image: BloombergFeed via Twitter / Futurism\* ## Bogus Bloomberg Here's a concerning dispatch from the fresh pits of AI-assisted misinformation hell. A fake image of an explosion at the Pentagon, almost certainly generated by an AI, garnered so much attention on Twitter this morning that, [according to *Insider*](), it caused the stock market to briefly dip. The picture was shared by a "verified" account — though of course that [means nothing now that]() you can just pay for a checkmark, with no actual verification process — called "Bloomberg Feed" on Twitter with the misleading caption "Large Explosion Near the Pentagon Complex in Washington, DC — Initial Report." The post circulated widely enough on the platform to have a real-world impact. After Twitter user DeItaone, who has over 650,000 followers, [shared the post]() at 10:06 am, the stock market fell 0.26 percent a mere four minutes later, according to *Insider*. Though the market recovered pretty quickly, the ordeal is a great example of just how quickly and effectively AI-generated misinformation can move through our [existing information pathways]() — especially on a platform as [deeply flawed]() as Elon Musk's Twitter. https://twitter.com/AndyBCampbell/status/1660654574644887558?s=20 ## Definitely Not Real While we're still not 100 percent sure the somewhat [convincing-looking image]() was generated by an AI, it certainly has some of the typical hallmarks of one. For instance, the fence around the building appears to melt into the sidewalk, while the building's window frames aren't perfectly aligned. It's also worth noting that the market responded negatively even *after* law enforcement agencies took to Twitter to debunk the image. "\[The Pentagon Force Protection Agency\] and the \[Arlington County Fire Department\] are aware of a social media report circulating online about an explosion near the Pentagon," Arlington's fire department [tweeted]() over half an hour before DeIatone retweeted the image. "There is NO explosion or incident taking place at or near the Pentagon reservation, and there is no immediate danger or hazards to the public." Twitter has also replaced the original post with a [disclaimer](). "This tweet is based on an AI-generated hoax," the disclaimer reads. "The initial report itself was fraudulent and later deleted." Nonetheless, plenty of other accounts chose to reshare the image, including several conspiracy-affiliated accounts, as well as [Russian state media account *RT*](), which alone has over three million followers. The incident goes to show that the use of [widely available]() generative AI tools can have very real consequences. And considering that we're only beginning to scratch the surface of what's possible with the tech, we'll likely see a lot more cases like this one in the near future. **More on misinformation:** [*That Viral Image of the Swagged out Pope Is an AI Fake, Dummies*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()