The Navoi city administration has confirmed that artificial intelligence was used in editing photographs published as part of neighborhood improvement works. The admission came after social media users raised suspicions about the authenticity of the images.
On August 2, the administration posted on its Telegram channel photos showing the condition of houses in the Hayot neighborhood before and after renovation. The post claimed that walls and facades were being tidied up, trees were being treated and whitewashed, weeds were being removed, and streets and sidewalks were being cleaned.
After allegations of AI manipulation spread online, the administration issued an official statement on August 8. It acknowledged the use of AI and admitted negligence by responsible employees in preparing the materials.
The statement read: "During the preparation and posting of materials on social networks, negligence was committed by responsible employees. In order to present the real changes in the neighborhood in a more visual and high-quality format, elements of artificial intelligence were used in the design process, and these materials were published without proper verification."
The administration apologized to residents and social media users for the incident and the justified criticism. Employees responsible for the materials received warnings.
However, the administration stressed that the improvement works in the Hayot neighborhood were actually carried out. It noted that the published images do not mean the changes were fabricated. To confirm the real state of the area, the administration attached unedited photo and video materials to its statement.
According to the administration, roads were repaired, street lights were installed, a children's playground was built, and green areas were created in the neighborhood. Media representatives, bloggers, and public activists were invited to visit the neighborhood and see the completed works firsthand.
The administration pledged to strengthen internal control to prevent such incidents from recurring in the preparation of informational materials.
Source: www.gazeta.uz