What The Tech: Don’t be fooled by fake Artificial Intelligence videos
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Tech Reporter
We’ve all heard the warnings about fake AI photos, videos, and even entire stories. But here’s the reality. Even when you know what to look for, you can still get fooled.
I did.
For the past few years, I’ve been showing you how to spot AI. Look closely at the details. The lighting. The hands. The way people move. And most importantly, don’t let emotion be the reason you hit “share.”
Then I saw a video.
Maybe you’ve seen it too. A pet shelter where, instead of people choosing a dog, the dog chooses the person. One by one, dogs walk up and pick their new owner while soft, tender music plays underneath.
It’s emotional. It’s heartwarming. It feels real. It’s also completely fake. And I shared it.
No fact-checking. No second look. I just hit share. The exact thing I tell viewers not to do. The emotional hook worked on me. I didn’t stop to question it. The video was created using artificial intelligence and quickly racked up millions of views on TikTok. A friend shared it on Facebook, and I passed it along too.
But there is no shelter doing this. It’s just a really good idea brought to life with AI. And that’s what makes this so important. AI isn’t just getting better. It’s getting smarter. It’s designed to trigger emotion. To make us smile. To make us tear up. To make us react quickly.
And when something makes us feel something, we’re far more likely to believe it and share it. That’s where we get into trouble.
Here’s the takeaway: before you share something that hits you emotionally, stop. Take a second to look for the source. Search for the original video. See if any legitimate news organizations are reporting on it.
And don’t assume it’s real just because someone you trust shared it. Because if it fooled me, someone who’s actively looking for signs of AI, it can fool anyone.
Now, this particular video didn’t cause real harm. But others absolutely can. Some are designed to mislead, manipulate, or push an agenda.
Even when the stakes are low, sharing something fake helps it spread. And the more it spreads, the harder it becomes to tell what’s real and what isn’t.
So remember three simple steps. Stop. Look. Search.
A good reminder for all of us. And one more thing. Something positive actually came out of that viral video. Pet shelters in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida saw it, loved the idea, and are now planning adoption events where the dogs will pick their owners.
Not everything online is real. But sometimes, it can still inspire something that is.
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