In the wake of the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025, misinformation has surged online, including misleading visuals created using artificial intelligence (AI). One widely shared Facebook post falsely claims to depict the city’s downtown area before and after the fires. The so-called “after” image, which dramatically shows skyscrapers engulfed in flames, was in fact generated using AI tools.
The post, published on January 14, 2025, features a caption stating, “Los Angeles. The most beautiful picture for today. Fact,” followed by a list of alleged facts about the electric vehicle company Tesla. It includes two side-by-side photos labeled “Before” and “After,” the first showing intact high-rise buildings, the second portraying the same scene ablaze.
These images have circulated on platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, further spreading the false narrative.
The Palisades and Eaton wildfires were among the most destructive in Los Angeles County’s history, burning over 37,000 acres and destroying more than 10,000 homes. However, downtown LA, including skyscrapers like the TCW Tower and the area around the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center), remained unaffected.
A closer analysis revealed that the fiery image is not a real photograph but an AI-generated image. Through visual clues and building identification, investigators traced the original location to downtown LA. A reverse image search led to an Instagram video posted by a content creator known for using AI tools such as Midjourney, Photoshop (PS), and Kling. The caption included hashtags like “#AIart” and “#GenerativeArt,” revealing the image’s artificial creation.
After the video gained traction as if it were real, the creator clarified: “I guess an AI video about the LA wildfire is spreading like wildfire. I did not expect this.”