It happens more and more often. You’re lying in bed, scrolling through social media (some more TikTok!) and come across an amazing video. A giant leopard darts into the backyard, where an incredibly brave domestic cat scares the predator away from an innocent toddler. He was about to send it to a friend, but doubts crept in at the last moment. is that so genuine?
Some videos generated by artificial intelligence are so realistic that they are indistinguishable from real footage. It may seem like an innocent prank, but scientists are warning of the potential impact on conservation efforts and children’s relationship with nature.
in conservation biology The research team investigated the virality and potentially problematic nature of AI-generated wildlife photos and videos on social media. They found three main problems: misunderstanding of animal behavior, anthropomorphism (the application of human characteristics to animals), and a growing disconnect between society and nature.
“Our findings show that we are concerned because some posts do not reflect reality and can lead to misinformation. For effective biodiversity conservation, it is essential that society is well-informed,” said José Guerrero Casado, a co-author of the study and a zoologist at the University of Córdoba in Spain. popular science.
He pointed to a video of a bird’s parents killing an “evil” snake. “Some users have commented in support of this result, but what impact does this have on snake conservation? Despite public resources being directed towards snake conservation, insufficient public support could undermine efforts,” he added.
A statement from the University of Córdoba on the study said such videos could also give the false impression of abundance of endangered species, further widening the already existing disconnect between humans and wildlife. In this same vein, these videos can give young children false expectations about local wildlife and realistic interactions with wildlife.
In other words, when backyard rabbits realize that jumping on a trampoline with a black bear isn’t going to give them a good time, “it’s counterproductive in terms of connection,” says Rocio Serrano, another co-author and researcher at the University of Córdoba’s Faculty of Education.
Further exacerbating the situation is the increasing use of social media as a source of information by people, especially young people. Additionally, the incorrect portrayal of friendly exotic animals has led to more people wanting to keep them as pets.
As far as broader animals are concerned, the research team suggests strategies such as increased media literacy and environmental education in schools to counter the potential harm propagated by these videos and “ensure that children understand from an early age that there are no lions here,” concludes study co-author Francisco Sánchez, a researcher at the Department of Zoology at the University of Córdoba.
Moral of the story: be careful with the content you’re engaging with. Some AI videos can be suspicious, but you should always be on the lookout for video quality and length, fraudulent text, strange-looking hands, etc. Others may still be difficult to identify.
“AI-generated wildlife videos look convincing, but there are some tell-tale signs,” says Siwei Lyu, a computer engineer at the University at Buffalo. popular science. “Watch for unnatural movements. Animals may move too smoothly or in a way that defies physics. Lighting mismatches are another clue. Shadows and reflections often don’t match the environment. Finally, look closely at small details like fur and feathers. AI models may blur textures or repeat patterns unnaturally.”
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