What are social media algorithms telling you? It could be news about the Iran war, people influencing your lifestyle, or cute pets you can adopt. We’re not here to judge! But no matter what kind of content you’re scrolling through on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or any other social media, chances are you’re using it as an opportunity to focus and relax instead of actually thinking critically about what you’re looking at.
However, there is a problem. Many social media platforms are now flooded with AI-generated content. And while it may seem like it doesn’t matter whether there really is a dog shelter where pets find new homes, an even bigger leak problem could arise if false claims that U.S. military bases in the Middle East were bombed spread. Furthermore, studies have shown that when synthetic media becomes abundant, people become less trusting even of verified videos.
Early AI dupes were easy to spot through obvious mistakes, but it’s becoming nearly impossible to tell them apart. The World Investigative Reporting Network points out that detection methods that worked just a few years ago are now outdated.
THR We looked at 10 posts from a variety of accounts, ranging from lifestyle tips to wartime disasters. Can you tell which ones are real and which ones were created by AI? Watch each video to make a guess, check your answers and see your score.
1 Influencer Nala Smith
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2 Influencer Shudu Glam
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3 kids say the worst things
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4 Jiu-jitsu artist vs bodybuilder
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5 Benefits of Tai Chi
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6 Comedian and influencer Quenlyn Blackwell
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7 Shelter where dogs choose new owners
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8 Iranian attack on fuel storage facility in Bahrain
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9 Iranian missile attack in Tel Aviv
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10 Granny Spills at Coachella
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answer key
1 Nala Smith: The real thing
It may be hard to imagine spending that much time making a French dip, but Smith was certainly a real person and even got his name. THRA list of the 50 hottest influencers from last fall. She brings a glamorous vibe to documenting her life, featuring meals made from scratch and other lifestyle content. She has 12.4 million followers on TikTok and 4.8 million followers on Instagram.
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2 Shudu Gram: AI generated
Shudu Gram is known as the world’s first digital supermodel and was launched in 2017. She has around 240,000 followers and has collaborated with luxury fashion brands such as Balmain (yes, it’s real).
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3 Kids: AI generated
This video of children expressing confusion over how their newborn baby sibling was cloned, and a toddler throwing a tantrum because he feels cheated, is itself cheating. Recently, this and similar videos have been circulating using tricks to get clicks.
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4 Jiu-jitsu: the real thing
This video was posted by Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Apple Valley, home of the famous Jiu-Jitsu Network led by Renner Gracie and Ryron Gracie, to demonstrate the power of martial arts.
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5 Tai Chi: AI generated
Unfortunately, while Tai Chi has many benefits, it won’t give you rock-hard abs in 28 days. Many Tai Chi teachers and practitioners criticize videos like this that are unrealistic and promise instant results. This is a hook that leads to a link to a subscription service that often turns out to be a paid or deceptive service.
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6 Quenlyn Blackwell: The real deal
Blackwell is a real-life Gen Z influencer who got her start making Vine videos and has since amassed over 13 million followers on TikTok and 4.4 million followers on Instagram. She’s also a comedian and model who also posts fashion and lifestyle content (including a recent MAC collaboration). and she was one of them THR50 Hottest Influencers. What it looks like largely Sounds too good to be true, right?
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7 Shelter Pet: AI Generated
There was a video like this a while back, so don’t feel bad if you’ve been fooled by this. Bridget Moynahan reposted this example with a description that it was created using Sora 2, but many of her followers commented that they were disappointed to discover that it wasn’t real. In more good news, one Pennsylvania shelter replicated the AI-driven trend. newsweek Reported.
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8 Bahrain Missile Attack: Authentic
The BBC and other outlets have noted an increase in AI-generated videos purporting to show attacks across the Middle East during the US war against Iran, but this video was posted by CNN, which cited the Bahrain National Communication Center as its source. The Global Investigative Journalism Network posted this guide on how to detect AI-generated content online. While this is aimed at journalists, it is also useful for anyone who is concerned about seeing content that has been altered by AI.
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9 Tel Aviv missile attack: AI generated
This widely circulated video was debunked by the following evidence: new york times. One potential benefit is the presence of the national flag in the foreground of the video. This is a common feature of AI videos set in Israel. of times It also notes that real videos are typically more modest and “shot from a distance, usually at night.”
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10 Granny Leaks: AI Generated
Both real and AI influencers descended on Coachella this year. The funniest of the AI set was Granny Spills, who posted photos “with” celebrities from Justin Bieber to Billie Eilish to Sabrina Carpenter, as well as videos of her taking the fest by storm. Blur Studios’ work has 2 million followers on Instagram.
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This story appears in The Hollywood Reporter’s AI Issue. Click here to read more.
