This week, Epic Games published a concept-art image showing what appeared to be a Porsche vehicle dropping into Fortnite. However, it was quickly removed after players theorized it had been made with the use of generative AI. And while Epic has since offered an explanation for what happened, something still seems … off.
Almost immediately after it was posted, ResetEra users pointed out that the image in question did not appear to be made by a human. Featuring a Porsche vehicle floating alongside a whole bunch of players, the car brand’s logo is illegible on the platform. Additionally, what appears to be the Riot Games logo is visible on the balloon.
Epic Games later said the image was provided by Porsche and, as it was shared by the Unreal Engine Twitter account, one would assume that means it was created using those tools. However, even after GameSpot talked to an Epic Games rep about the image, it remains unclear why or how the Riot Games logo made its way onto the balloon. Combined with the Porsche logo, it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to infer that someone at Porsche made it via AI.
At the very least, the car configurator tool–which does make use of the Unreal Engine–looks a whole lot more impressive than the AI image. While you wouldn’t download a car, it appears some would AI-generate one.