These visuals initially surfaced on a social media platform under an account self-identified as a parody source, claiming to produce "high quality AI videos and memes." Each image bears a digital watermark that explicitly denotes its creation via artificial intelligence, serving as a clear indicator of their inauthenticity. These images appeared in close proximity to the Justice Department's recent publication of extensive new files related to Epstein, which may have prompted the surge in interest and subsequent fabrication.
One of the prominent AI-generated pictures displays Mayor Mamdani and Mira Nair in what appears to be a nighttime city street scene, surrounded by Maxwell, Epstein, Bill Clinton, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates. In this group portrait, Mamdani is shown as a preadolescent. Another image portrays the same collective—excluding Nair—in a tropical setting, with Epstein holding Clinton on his lap and Maxwell standing close to a younger-looking Mamdani.
Additional fabricated images circulated online depict Mamdani as an infant in the arms of Nair amid the company of Epstein, Clinton, Maxwell, and Bezos. It is important to note that none of Epstein’s victims have made public accusations implicating Clinton, Gates, or Bezos in connection with Epstein's illegal activities.
Verification of these images’ artificial origins was confirmed using Google's Gemini application, which detected SynthID, a watermarking tool designed to identify AI-generated or modified content. This means Google’s AI models were instrumental in either creating or editing these pictures fully or partially.
The social media account responsible for posting the images brands itself as an "AI-powered meme engine," specializing in the rapid creation of memes, songs, stories, and visuals that purportedly present situations candidly and unignorable. Attempts to contact the account for comment have not elicited a response, yet one post seemingly admits to the fabrication, noting, "Damn you guys failed. I purposely made him a baby which would technically make this pic 34 years old. Yikes."
The proliferation of these images gained momentum following the revelation of an email from publicist Peggy Siegal to Epstein, discussing sightings of notable figures including Clinton, Bezos, and Nair at a 2009 afterparty for a film hosted at Maxwell’s townhouse. Nevertheless, Mamdani was 18 years old in 2009, conflicting with the depiction of him as a child or infant in the AI-generated content. These inconsistencies highlight the deliberate distortion of facts within these creations.
Furthermore, the images have fueled baseless rumors stating Jeffrey Epstein as Mamdani's father, which is inaccurate. Mamdani's actual father is Mahmood Mamdani, an anthropology professor affiliated with Columbia University. Efforts to obtain an official response from the New York City Mayor’s Office regarding these fabrications have so far been unsuccessful.