Researchers said they were able to evade rules against "misleading content" more than 40% of the time.

The companies behind the most popular tools prohibit users from creating “misleading” images.

But researchers with the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) attempted to work around the rules.

Their efforts to make deceptive election-related images were successful 41% of the time.

The CCDH, a campaign group, tested four of the largest public-facing AI platforms: Midjourney, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus, Stability.ai’s DreamStudio and Microsoft’s Image Creator.

All four prohibit creating misleading images as part of their terms and conditions. ChatGPT Plus expressly bars creating images featuring politicians. Several AI firms say they are working to stop their tools being used in spreading election misinformation, as well.

CCDH researchers, though, were able to create images that could confuse viewers about presidential candidates. One was of Donald Trump led away by police in handcuffs and another showed Joe Biden in a hospital bed - fictional photos alluding to Mr Trump’s legal problems and questions about Mr Biden’s age.