AI-Generated Propaganda Emerges as Powerful Tool in Modern Warfare

Iran's missile strikes against Israel sparked a wave of AI-generated war footage flooding social media platforms. Forensic experts confirm the most viral videos—depicting fabricated destruction in Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport—were deepfakes, some produced using Google's advanced video model. These synthetic visuals demonstrate how state actors and online factions now weaponize AI to distort public perception with alarming sophistication.

The incident coincides with escalating tensions between Iran and Western powers, including U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. As millions turned to social media for real-time updates, many encountered orchestrated disinformation instead of factual reporting. This paradigm shift underscores the growing role of generative AI in hybrid warfare—where chatbot-generated narratives, manipulated game footage, and synthetic personas converge to manipulate global audiences at unprecedented scale.