Woman Apologises After AI Image Falsely Portrays Itel Power Tank Explosion

A Nigerian social media user identified as Enori has apologised after admitting that she created and circulated an artificial intelligence-generated image falsely suggesting that an itel Power Tank had exploded. The image, which was shared on X earlier in the week, was presented alongside a claim that the itel product had exploded allegedly because it was overcharged. The post attracted attention online before Enori deleted it and later acknowledged that the incident had never occurred. In an apology shared on social media, Enori admitted that both the image and the claim were fabricated using AI. She said she had posted the material three days earlier while claiming that an itel solar fan had exploded because of overcharging. According to her, however, no such incident occurred. Enori apologised to itel, its customers and people who may have believed that the image showed a genuine product incident. She also acknowledged that the post could have affected the company and potential customers who encountered the claim online. The user said she understood the potential impact of fabricated content on a brand and promised not to repeat the action. She subsequently clarified that the image circulating online was not a photograph of an actual explosion involving an itel product. Itel had threatened legal action Enori’s apology followed a warning issued by itel after the AI-generated image began circulating online. In a disclaimer published on X on Wednesday, the technology company said it welcomed genuine customer criticism and feedback but would not accept the deliberate use of fabricated material to spread false information about its products. The company specifically referred to AI-generated images and other misleading content that could be used to damage its reputation or mislead consumers. Itel warned that deliberate attempts to misrepresent the company through fabricated content, manipulated materials or false claims could attract legal action. The company said it would pursue appropriate legal remedies where necessary to protect its brand, customers and reputation. The warning came after the image appeared to show an itel Power Tank in the aftermath of an explosion, creating the impression that the portable power station had suffered a serious safety failure. However, there is no verified evidence that the explosion shown in the image actually occurred. What the image claimed The viral material was particularly significant because it was presented as evidence of a product-safety incident. The accompanying claim suggested that overcharging had caused the device to explode. But subsequent statements from Enori established that the scenario itself was fabricated. The user’s admission means the image should not be treated as evidence of an actual itel Power Tank accident. Other reports that followed the controversy also confirmed that Enori had deleted the original post and admitted that the image and scenario were created using artificial intelligence. The incident demonstrates how AI-generated imagery can make fabricated events appear visually convincing, particularly when an image is separated from its original context and redistributed across social media. What itel says about the Power Tank The itel Power Tank is marketed as a portable backup-power solution designed to provide electricity to essential devices when conventional power is unavailable. According to itel Energy’s product information, its energy products use lithium iron phosphate, or LiFePO4, battery technology. The company also lists several protection systems, including battery management, over-temperature, over-voltage, overload and short-circuit protection. Those specifications do not establish that an itel Power Tank can never experience a malfunction or safety incident. However, they provide context for the product’s stated safety design and are separate from the fabricated explosion depicted in the viral image. Most importantly, the available reporting reviewed for this story found no verified incident connecting an actual itel Power Tank explosion to the image circulated by Enori. Growing challenge of AI-generated misinformation The episode comes as increasingly realistic AI-generated images continue to complicate the verification of information shared online. Unlike older forms of obviously manipulated content, AI-generated images can create detailed scenes that may appear photographic at first glance. When such material is accompanied by a specific claim about a product, company or public incident, users may share it before checking whether the underlying event actually occurred. In this case, the claim concerned a consumer product and alleged a potentially serious safety incident. Had the image continued circulating without clarification, consumers could have mistaken the fabricated scene for evidence of a genuine product failure. Itel's response therefore focused on both the authenticity of the image and the potential consequences of deliberately circulating fabricated material. The company said it would take steps to protect its customers and reputation, while Enori subsequently accepted responsibility for creating the image and apologised. No confirmed explosion linked to the viral image The most important clarification from the episode is that the viral image does not document a confirmed itel Power Tank explosion. The person who initially circulated the image has acknowledged that the material was generated with AI and that the incident depicted never happened. Itel has also described the content as fabricated and warned against spreading it. The controversy has consequently shifted from an alleged product-safety incident to a case involving fabricated digital content and the difficulty of distinguishing AI-generated material from genuine photographs. For consumers who encountered the image online, the subsequent admission provides a clear reason not to rely on the viral photograph as evidence of an itel Power Tank explosion.