UK Police Release Terrible AI-Generated Suspect Sketch, and the Internet Doesn't Disappoint

Kent Police in Tunbridge Wells, about 30 miles southeast of London, U.K., released a "sketch" of a suspect generated with computer technology on Monday. Law enforcement is seeking help from the public to identify the suspect in connection to a burglary.

Kent police wrote:

Investigators have released a computer generated image of a man they would like to identify in connection with a burglary in Tunbridge Wells.

Investigators have released a computer generated image of a man they would like to identify in connection with a burglary in Tunbridge Wells. https://t.co/hPrbjaLeyU pic.twitter.com/D35VA8TfQd
— Kent Police TWells (@KentPoliceTWell) April 29, 2024

The image is distinctly awful, resembling some Angela Anaconda-esque combination of animation and photography. Did I age myself with that late '90s children's cartoon reference?

In case you're left in the dark, here is the show's opening sequence, uploaded on a YouTube channel 18 years ago, and has amazingly racked up over 4 million views... somehow.

While I am certain we are in the midst of a manhunt for a relative of a late '90s children's TV character, other internet sleuths have identified the suspect as one of the world's wealthiest people: Elon Musk.

A contributor at The Publica, Freely Ashley wrote:

The resemblance is uncanny.

The resemblance is uncanny. pic.twitter.com/3CQvezaQql
— Freely Ashley (@TheFreelyAshley) April 30, 2024

Another social media user tossed me right back to '90s nostalgia with a 007 GoldenEye reference, which I of course owned on Nintendo 64, with the rumble pack. Natalya Fyodorovna Simonova, the 'Bond Girl' character in the 1995 James Bond movie, "GoldenEye," was considered a beauty icon at the time, even in the video game's low resolution.

If you know, you know.

Matt, a producer at Sirius XM radio wrote:

Post accomplices.

Post accomplices. pic.twitter.com/VHmFRsGxeR
— 🦅 (@MattOfMyth) April 29, 2024

Many social media accounts identified the U.K. burglary suspect as U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. One user included his Washington D.C. office address to streamline the law enforcement inquiry.

His name is Pete Buttigieg. You can find him at 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/G09IBk2svD
— Maverick (@MaverickLIVE_) April 30, 2024

Another common answer was to point to transgender actor Elliot Paige:

pic.twitter.com/aCRULH1C75
— Ali Zein Yousuf (@AliZYousuf) April 30, 2024

While artificial intelligence has made strides in applications and image generation, it is not clear what computer program the Kent Police used to produce this uncanny image of a suspect-at-large, although I believe Microsoft Paint may have been their go-to. As investigators learn and hone their skills with modern advancements, they will undoubtedly solve more crimes, the same way DNA evidence was a game-changer in the justice system.

While I hope Kent Police nab the robber, I can't help but wonder if this image will generate a useful lead. Either way, it's attracting eyeballs which was the intention.