FB page posts AI image of banana warehouse, other inaccurate photos

A Facebook page has published inaccurate and AI-generated photos in a post claiming the country ranks third globally in banana exports.

The country’s ranking in Discover Philippines’ June 3 post is accurate, according to the latest Banana Market Review of the Food and Agriculture Organization, but its first photo misleads as it is an AI-generated image of a banana storage facility.

American AI solutions company Hive found that 95.7% of the photo was generated by artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, two other AI image detectors calculated an average probability of 68.05% of the photo being AI-generated.

Using a reverse image search, the AI-generated photo can be traced to a Reddit post dated May 28 under the subreddit dedicated to “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of Kingdom,” a video game on the Nintendo Switch. The image was taken down by moderators because it contained spoilers to the game.

The photo was upvoted over 1,100 times and reposted on 9GAG and Twitter where it garnered more reach.

But the AI-generated photo is not the only inaccurate content in the post. All other photos are genuine shots of various plantations and landscapes in the country taken by Filipino photographer Joseph Gumia, but only three show banana farms.

Unlike bananas that grow from trees, pineapples grow from the ground. An example of a pineapple plantation that the Facebook page used is Gumia’s photo of a transmission tower amid a plantation in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Google Maps shows that Gumia's photo is of a pineapple plantation even though this isn't indicated in his Facebook caption

A Google Maps aerial view of the pineapple plantation that Gumia took in Polomolok, South Cotabato

Three other photos are other angles of the same plantation Gumia captured in Polomolok, South Cotabato. Two of them showcased the “pineapple patterns” of the farm, Gumia said in his captions.

Gumia’s photos of the “pineapple patterns” in Polomolok, South Cotabato

An overlooking view of the pineapple plantation at the foot of Mt. Matutum, located in South Cotabato, was also included in the Facebook post of Discover Philippines.

Gumia’s photo of the pineapple plantation at the foot of Mt. Matutum, South Cotabato

Two other photos were of mountainscapes – one of Mindanao's version of “Chocolate Hills” and another of Mt. Matutum – and not banana plantations.

Gumia’s aerial shots of some land formations in the Philippines

The only genuine photos of banana plantations are Gumia’s aerial shots taken in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur as indicated in his Facebook captions.

Gumia’s photo of Tagum Agricultural Development Co.’s banana plantation in Davao del Norte

Gumia’s photos of banana trees from banana plantations in Davao del Sur

Discover Philippines’ post received a total of 66 reactions and 25 shares on Facebook as of June 13. Created in October 2020, the page posts content about Philippine infrastructure projects and developments. It has over 59,000 followers to date. (DF)