Vincent Smadja's AI-Generated Fake Tractor Image at Eiffel Tower Goes Viral

An AI-generated image of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by hay bales and tractors has gone viral amid ongoing farmer protests across Europe. The image, which appears realistic but is entirely fabricated, was created by French artist Vincent Smadja, known online as If Only. Smadja, based in Paris, gained fame for his surreal AI-generated scenes featuring famous monuments. His Instagram page has over 90,000 followers, and his works have been featured by NBC and Saatchi, leading to collaborations with fashion brand Valentino and beauty company Kerastase. Smadja began experimenting with Midjourney in March 2023, despite having no prior artistic training. He participated in the group exhibition "Art(e)facts – for daily use" curated by Francesco Sorrentino and AI Agency Creaitors.co, organized by a Milan-based omnichannel communication agency. Smadja describes AI as a revolution in art, introducing new practices and mindsets for creating and consuming art.