Beware: Adorable Animal Videos Online Might Be AI Fakes
In the digital age, nothing captures the internet’s heart like videos of cute animals. However, with the advancements in artificial intelligence, even these charming clips can no longer be trusted at face value. A recent viral video of bunnies jumping on a trampoline, seemingly captured by a home surveillance camera, has racked up an astonishing 203 million views on TikTok. But brace yourselves, readers, for it’s not real. It’s completely fabricated by artificial intelligence.
The video, posted by @rachelthecatlovers with the caption “Just checked the home security cam and… I think we’ve got guest performers out back! @Ring,” appears convincing at first. The bunnies seem to be genuinely enjoying their trampoline time, and the night-time surveillance footage setting helps mask any potential AI artifacts. Yet, tech site 404Media uncovered the truth: the video is a clever AI-generated hoax. One giveaway is the spontaneous disappearance of one of the bunnies mid-jump. Moreover, the background remains eerily static throughout.
The AI video is quite well-disguised, featuring real-life-like movements, sound effects of bugs in the distance, and even a tag of the Ring camera system to give an air of authenticity. But, as with many things in life, looks can be deceiving. Despite its convincing nature, it’s just another AI-generated phony among many trending online.
AI videos with sound have become increasingly believable since the release of tools like Google’s Imagen and Deepfake. Users are reacting with shock and disbelief across social media, with comments like: “This is the first AI that has ever got me” and “[How] is this not real.” It seems the era of ‘AI humor at the expense of others’ is evolving into a new normal where anyone can become a victim of deception.
The bunny video is not an isolated incident. From fake footage of people cleaning barnacles off whales to phony doorbell-cam recordings of animals, fake surveillance clips of animals have emerged as a new genre of AI-generated content. It appears that AI-generated animal videos are the latest trend to have internet users questioning what’s real and what’s not.
So, the next time you come across disbelief-defying animal footage, remember to be wary—you might be watching a cleverly crafted AI deception rather than a genuine moment. Always verify the credibility of the source, check for inconsistencies, and if the video seems too good to be true, it probably is.
