A Nigerian X user, Enori, has apologised to itel and its customers after admitting that she used artificial intelligence to create and circulate a fake image purportedly showing an itel Power Tank after an explosion.
Enori had shared the image on X earlier in the week, claiming that an itel solar fan had exploded due to overcharging. The post attracted significant attention before she deleted it.
In an apology posted on social media, she admitted that the incident never occurred and that the image was AI-generated.
“I made a post three days ago claiming that itel solar fan exploded and that it was overcharging, which I used AI to create. It didn’t happen, and I’m very, very sorry to the itel team and to the itel customers,” she said.
She also apologised to people who may have believed the image was genuine or were affected by the claim.
Enori said she understood the potential damage such content could cause to a brand, adding that she never intended for the post to gain widespread attention.
“To the incoming customers that may have felt deceived, or angry, or felt like or believed that it was real, it was not real. It was AI and I deleted it,” she said.
The apology followed a warning by itel over the circulation of the fabricated image.
In a disclaimer issued on X on Wednesday, the company described the image as fake and warned that it would take legal action against individuals who deliberately used AI-generated or manipulated content to mislead customers or damage its reputation.
itel said it would pursue available legal remedies against deliberate misrepresentation involving fabricated content, manipulated materials or false claims about its products.
The itel Power Tank is a portable power station designed to provide backup electricity during outages. The company says the device uses lithium iron phosphate batteries and incorporates safety features including battery management, over-temperature, over-voltage, overload and short-circuit protection.
There is no verified evidence that an itel Power Tank was involved in the explosion depicted in the AI-generated image.