Santa Ana police say reported Gaboon viper photo was AI-made

In short: Santa Ana police withdrew a public warning after learning a reported Gaboon viper sighting was based on an AI-generated image.

What happened

Santa Ana police in California warned residents about a reported 4 to 5 foot Gaboon viper near Main Street and Edinger Avenue. The warning came after police received a photo that appeared to show the snake sitting in a tree.

Officers and reptile experts searched the area. Police said they found no snake and no signs that one had been there.

Detectives later followed up with the person who made the report. Police said he admitted the report was false and that the image was made using AI, which can create realistic looking pictures from text prompts (like asking a computer to “draw” something that never happened). The department then withdrew its warning.

A Gaboon viper is a venomous snake that is native to parts of equatorial Africa. That is one reason the photo drew attention, since finding one in a Southern California neighborhood would be unusual.

Why it matters

This incident shows how a convincing AI-made image can lead to real world action, including police searches and public alerts. For most people, the main takeaway is simple: a picture on its own is no longer solid proof that something happened. It is more like a realistic movie prop, it can look real even when it is not.

Source: NYTimes