Fact-Check: Viral Pictures of Egyptian Pyramid Construction Are AI-Generated, Not Real

Images claiming to show the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, allegedly taken in 2600 BC, are circulating on social media. However, an investigation by ESN reveals that these images are not genuine historical photographs but AI-generated fabrications.

What’s Going Viral?

Social media user 'Mostafa M. Elgazzar' shared the viral photos, captioned, “Official photos taken during the construction of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, 2600 BC JC IT WAS NOT ALIENS.” These images have been widely circulated with similar claims by other users.

Investigation

The viral post includes four images, which appear unusual and implausible. A reverse image search did not yield any official sources for these pictures. Furthermore, the claim that these photos date back to 2600 BC is historically inaccurate. Photography was invented in the 19th century, long after the purported date of the events in the viral post. According to the National Geographic website, the construction of the pyramids at Giza occurred between 2550 and 2490 BC. The clarity and peculiar nature of the visuals strongly suggest AI generation. We used an AI-detection tool to analyze the images, which indicated a 99.9% probability of them being AI-generated. A second tool confirmed this with over 99% certainty. Our investigation confirms that the images circulating as official photographs of pyramid construction are AI-generated.

We consulted Abhijeet Parashar, an expert in AI and machine learning, who confirmed that these pictures were indeed created using AI tools. The user who shared the misleading post identifies as an Egyptian in his profile.

Conclusion

The viral post claiming to show official photographs of the construction of the Egyptian pyramids is false. These images are not authentic but are generated using AI tools.