Thai police apologise for AI-modified flood relief image

Bangkok: Thai border police have apologised for publishing an AI modified image showing flood relief rescuers in combat gear and wielding automatic we...

Bangkok: Thai border police have apologised for publishing an AI-modified image showing flood relief rescuers in combat gear and wielding automatic weapons in one of the hardest-hit cities in southern Thailand.

Thai authorities have been accused of fabricating evidence in some past cases but netizens were split over the latest fakery, some condemning the manipulation of the image while others wished it was real.

Widespread flooding has hit southern Thailand in recent days, with the government confirming that at least 55 people have been killed so far.

The 437th Border Patrol Police unit published the image of gun-toting rescuers on its Facebook page after social media footage recorded sounds of shots being fired as volunteers on jetskis worked in a flooded neighbourhood in Hat Yai neighbourhood.

"Border patrol ready to enter zone 8 today," read the caption, along with a laughing emoji.