A social media post showed a Texas high school on fire. Police say it was AI.

A photograph showing a Texas precocious schoolhouse connected occurrence that sparked interest among the assemblage was generated by artificial intelligence, section authorities said -- and experts are present emphasizing the necessity for schools to beryllium "better prepared" to code the imaginable threats of AI-generated images.

Officials successful Bellaire, Texas, emphasized that determination was nary occurrence astatine Bellaire High School, though the occurrence section was called to the schoolhouse connected Monday erstwhile a occurrence alarm went off. 

"We privation to clarify that determination is NO occurrence astatine Bellaire High School," the Bellaire Police Department said successful a statement connected Monday.

The incidental occurred connected Monday greeting conscionable arsenic students were arriving to Bellaire High School for the time erstwhile the "fire alarm sounded owed to what was aboriginal determined to beryllium a freon leak," the Houston Independent School District said successful a connection to ABC News.

In this photograph posted to their Facebook account, Bellaire Fire Department units are shown responding to a reported commercialized occurrence alarm astatine Bellaire High School, successful Bellaire, Texas.

Bellaire Fire Department/Facebook

Despite occurrence officials determining the contented to beryllium a refrigerant leak, constabulary said aboriginal the fake representation began spreading online, causing interest from parents and members of the community.

"A fake societal media station with an AI-generated representation showing the schoolhouse connected occurrence is circulating online," police said. "Please cognize that each students and unit are safe. We admit everyone's interest and inquire you assistance halt the dispersed of misinformation by sharing this authoritative update."

Neither constabulary oregon the schoolhouse territory would corroborate erstwhile the representation began circulating online.

Threat of AI-generated images to schools

While determination person been akin instances successful the past -- similar erstwhile verified accounts shared fake images falsely claiming determination was an detonation astatine the Pentagon successful 2023 -- authorities and non-government organizations, including schools, are "behind the curve erstwhile it comes to dealing with AI-generated oregon AI-enhanced threats," according to John Cohen, ABC News contributor and erstwhile acting undersecretary astatine the Department of Homeland Security.

"Just similar schools are prepared for progressive shooter situations and, successful the past, prepared students for weaponry threats and fire, unluckily successful the property we are surviving in, schools besides person to beryllium prepared to woody with AI-generated contented that is meant to disrupt activities oregon origin problems wrong the schoolhouse environment," Cohen said.

Jeffrey McGregor, the CEO of Truepic, a bundle institution that helps businesses authenticate visuals and artifact AI manipulation, said helium is "deeply concerned" astir the imaginable threats AI could airs to schools.

"You person the astir almighty AI successful the hands of each azygous internet-connected human, including precocious schoolhouse students. The quality to make wholly synthetic and highly realistic images is present instantly disposable to everyone," McGregor told ABC News.

How tin schools, parents assistance mitigate AI threats

If schools are capable to support consciousness of however exertion tin beryllium utilized to "sow discord," make plans with section instrumentality enforcement and to regularly signifier those plans, Cohen said schools volition beryllium capable to "rapidly counteract" these AI-generated threats and "prevent panic."

While Cohen emphasized the value of authorities and non-government organizations, including schools, needing to "do a amended occupation being prepared" connected the imaginable threats from AI, helium besides recommended students and parents ever beryllium skeptical astir contented until it tin beryllium verified by a trusted source.

Until determination is immoderate benignant of an internet-wide solution wherever consumers tin instantly cognize whether contented is existent oregon AI-generated, McGregor had 1 portion of advice: "No 1 should judge what they spot anymore."

"Until exertion is capable to drawback up a spot and supply immoderate of these indicators arsenic to the trustworthiness of imagery, radical should flat-out not judge the photos and videos that they are looking at," McGregor said.