Short summary: A viral image purporting to show BRICS leaders taking a selfie at the 18th summit in New Delhi is AI-generated. OpenAI's verification tool detected a SynthID watermark indicating the file was produced by AI. The photo shows figures who did not attend the summit — including leaders who were represented by other officials — and even depicts Ebrahim Raisi, who died in 2024. Official participant lists and PIB photos contradict the circulated image.
Viral 'BRICS Selfie' Is AI-Generated — OpenAI Tool Flags SynthID Watermark
Screenshot of the false post captured on September 15, 2026, with AI symbol and red cross added by AFP
A widely shared photograph that purported to show BRICS leaders posing for a selfie at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, is not genuine. Independent checks and metadata analysis indicate the image was generated by artificial intelligence and was not taken at the summit.
What The Image Claimed
The viral picture circulated across Facebook, Instagram and X and appeared to show Russian President Vladimir Putin taking a selfie with a group of other heads of state. A Bengali-language post shared on September 13, 2026, exclaimed: "A single photo has taken the entire world by storm!"
This handout photograph taken and released by Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on September 13, 2026 shows leaders of participating countries gather for a family photo during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.HandoutIndian Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Why It’s False
AI provenance detected: OpenAI's image-verification tool identified an invisible SynthID watermark in the file, indicating the image was created using the company's AI models.
Wrong people, wrong place: The photo includes figures who did not attend the New Delhi summit — notably Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Official records show Brazil was represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, the UAE by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Turkey sent no delegation.
Screenshot comparison between the falsely shared image (left) and the AFP image from the BRICS Summit in New Delhi with the logo and slogan highlighted by AFP
Historic inaccuracy: The image also depicts Ebrahim Raisi, a former Iranian president who died in a 2024 helicopter crash. Iran’s actual attendee at the summit was President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Branding mismatch: Observers noted the BRICS logo and slogan visible in the viral image differ from the official branding used at the 2026 New Delhi summit, as seen in handout photos distributed by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Screenshot of OpenAI Verification tool results taken on September 15
Verification Sources
These discrepancies were confirmed by cross-checking the participant list published by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, official summit photos from the PIB and AFP, and OpenAI’s image-verification results (screenshots taken on September 15, 2026).
Bottom line: The viral "selfie" is an AI-generated fabrication. Rely on official summit releases and primary-source participant lists when verifying high-profile photos.
Advice for readers: If you encounter striking photos of world leaders online, check official government photo releases, look for press agency handouts, and use available image-verification tools before sharing.
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