On Wednesday evening, the MAGA-friendly cable channel OAN (One America News) featured a segment where Defense Department spokesperson Kingsley Wilson enthusiastically discussed a perceived rise in female military recruitment. During this segment, host Matt Gaetz displayed four images of women in combat fatigues, ostensibly to support this narrative. However, it was soon revealed that these images were artificially generated, raising questions about the authenticity of the content presented by the network.
The AI-generated images, which bore small watermarks indicating they were created using Elon Musk’s Grok, were used to illustrate Wilson’s claims about increased recruitment numbers. She stated, “These numbers are fantastic,” noting a shift from about 16,000 female recruits in the previous administration to over 24,000 currently. Although these figures were relayed with confidence, it should be noted that the Pentagon has not officially provided detailed statistics on female military recruits, although there were reports that the Defense Department had shared similar figures with Fox News.
Following the broadcast, CNN sought clarification from OAN regarding the source of the images, particularly asking if the network’s staff had generated them and whether any policies existed concerning AI-produced content. A spokesperson for OAN admitted that the images did violate company policies and confirmed that management had implemented corrective measures to address the misstep. The network’s statement indicated that an on-air correction would be issued, and further actions would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
In a subsequent broadcast, Matt Gaetz publicly apologized for airing the misleading AI-generated images, stating, “We made a mistake.” He clarified that the images were not provided by the Department of Defense but were instead sourced from Grok, urging for better judgment moving forward in their content selection.
Founded in 2013, OAN quickly gained notoriety during Trump’s first term for its consistent support of the MAGA movement and its tendency to promulgate conspiracy theories. The channel has become infamous for advancing the unfounded claims surrounding Trump’s 2020 election loss, leading to various defamation lawsuits. Last year, the network settled a lawsuit with Smartmatic, a voting technology company that alleged OAN used false claims to bolster its viewer ratings and revenue. Additionally, OAN settled another lawsuit linked to Dominion Voting Systems but continues to face separate legal challenges from the company.
Despite its controversial content and backdrop of legal issues, OAN has witnessed a decline in viewership and revenue, exacerbated by DirecTV’s decision to drop the channel in 2022. Nevertheless, OAN received a brief influx of attention earlier this year when Kari Lake, who has connections to Trump and was selected to oversee a diminished Voice of America, declared that OAN would provide “newsfeed services” to VOA and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate about media integrity, the role of AI in news reporting, and the responsibilities of news organizations when presenting factual information. In an era where misinformation can spread rapidly, ensuring accuracy and transparency in media becomes increasingly critical. The use of deceptively labeled AI-generated imagery serves as a potent reminder of the challenges current news outlets face in maintaining trust with their audiences, especially within the politically charged environment in which OAN operates.
The evolving landscape of media and technology continues to raise pressing questions about the authenticity of content delivered to viewers. As the public grapples with these realities, organizations like OAN must navigate the delicate balance of accurate reporting while also adhering to evolving standards of media ethics, accountability, and transparency. This incident is a cautionary tale for media platforms that may still insist on sensationalizing information under the guise of supposed realities, further complicating public trust in journalism as a whole.
