Real or AI? Video of Elderly Woman Feeding Bear on Porch Goes Viral
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A recent video that went viral across social media platforms depicted a shocking scene: an elderly woman feeding a large, wild bear from a bowl on her porch. The footage, captured from a police officer’s body camera perspective, shows the woman standing closely next to the bear with a bowl and spoon in hand. The officer filming the encounter instructs the woman to step back and cease feeding the bear. Originally posted on the TikTok account @SoraLifeOfficial, the video has amassed over 44 million views.
The circumstances portrayed in the video may appear too extraordinary to be true, and indeed, they are not. The video in question is actually AI-generated footage created using Sora, a novel social media app that utilises OpenAI to fabricate content. Unlike traditional videos, AI-generated clips may not always be easily discernible by viewers. Jeremy Carrasco, an AI consultant and director known as @showtoolsai on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, dismantled the authenticity of the elderly woman feeding the bear clip without relying on the Sora watermark. Carrasco suggests that a critical red flag in the clip is its resemblance to being captured by a bodycam, as AI typically imitates lower-quality security or surveillance camera footage.
To detect AI-generated videos like this, Carrasco advises viewers to scrutinise the source account for credibility. In the case of the bear-feeding video, it was posted on an account primarily filled with Sora-generated content, indicating its artificial nature. He further prompts audiences to identify inconsistencies within the video itself, such as misalignments in the setting or abnormal characteristics of objects featured in the footage.
Following the circulation of the elderly woman and bear video, several similar AI-generated clips began surfacing on social media platforms. This trend emphasises the importance of distinguishing between genuine and AI-manipulated content. While fabricated encounters like these can captivate audiences, it is essential to remain vigilant and discerning when consuming online media.
While the proliferation of AI-generated content presents captivating possibilities, it also underlines the necessity for media literacy among audiences to differentiate between reality and computer-generated simulations. By developing a critical eye and actively verifying the authenticity of online content, viewers can navigate the digital landscape with greater awareness and discernment.