A Bengaluru-based tech professional has triggered a wider debate about the risks of artificial intelligence after showcasing how Google’s AI tool, Nano Banana, can be used to produce strikingly realistic identity cards.
Harveen Singh Chadha generated fake PAN and Aadhaar cards using the name “Twitterpreet Singh” and shared them online to draw attention to a growing security concern.
“Nano Banana is impressive — and that’s the problem. It can replicate identity cards with extraordinary accuracy. Traditional image-based verification systems don’t stand a chance,” Chadha wrote on social platform X.
The two images he posted appear convincingly real at first glance, but a closer look reveals they are fabricated. Both cards also carry a faint Gemini AI watermark, making their origin identifiable.
His demonstration has amplified concerns over the misuse of generative AI tools to forge documents, raising questions about the preparedness of digital identity verification systems and regulations.
The post has sparked a wave of discussions online about the urgent need for stronger safeguards, modernised verification mechanisms, and responsible deployment of AI in India’s accelerating digital landscape.
One user noted that Google’s Gemini attaches hidden SynthID watermarks to its AI-generated images, which can be identified via the Gemini app. Chadha, however, replied, “No one is going to scan every ID proof through the Gemini app.”
Another commenter argued that fake cards would not match official government records and pointed to the QR-style codes used for authentication, while questioning why systems fail to detect forged versions. Harveen responded by asking, “When you show Aadhaar at a hotel or airport, do they actually scan it?”
A third user added that real verification requires cross-checking information against a definitive source, and merely glancing at an ID card does not amount to authentication.
While talking about the mixed reactions on social media, Chadha told Hindustan Times, “Some people agree it’s scary and feel this level of AI accuracy is concerning. Some say SynthID exists but verifying SynthID properly is still a learning curve and not trivial for most people. Also watermarks at the side of the image can be cropped. Others argue this was always possible with Photoshop which is true but tools like Nano Banana drastically lower the entry barrier and make it easier for anyone.”
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