Fake microscopy images generated by AI are indistinguishable from the real thing

By Katrina Krämer2025-09-30T13:37:00

Three pairs of similar images three taken using microscopic techniques and three generated using AI

Source: © Nadiia Davydiuk et al, Nature Nanotechnology 2025

Materials scientists warn that raw data and replication studies are needed to tackle the looming threat of near-undetectable AI fraud

A new nanoscience paper describes an exciting new material that closely resembles a much-loved puffed corn snack. A scatter of twisted tubes, dubbed nano-cheetos, are shown in a clear electron microscopy image. The only problem: the material isn’t real. The image was made with ChatGPT, by a team of materials scientists who warn that such AI-generated images could make scientific fraud near-undetectable.