AI-generated videos of monkeys eating honey go viral; Z News shares one as real
A news outlet named Z News published a video on Facebook under the title “Two Monkeys’ Honey-Eating Contest,” showing two monkeys eating honey from a beehive. However, Dismislab’s fact-check found that the video was created using artificial intelligence (AI).
On October 10, the video was posted from the Facebook page of the news outlet “znews.” The 10-second video shows two monkeys eating honey from a beehive on a tree trunk. The video was presented as a real scene. No mention of AI use was seen in the video.
Before this report was published, the video had been viewed more than 200,000 times, and the post had received more than 1,000 reactions.
In the investigation, the video was examined frame by frame, and several visual inconsistencies were noticed. Both monkeys show large, smooth pink swellings on their cheeks. In a close-up shot near the end of the video, the smaller monkey’s cheek looks bigger than its head. It has no natural fur or skin texture. The size and position of the swellings change throughout the video.
At the start, the arm of the upper monkey stretches unnaturally long toward the beehive. The hand merges with the edge of the hive, and the fingers cannot be told apart.
The video was examined with the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which reported a 98.1 percent probability that the video is AI-generated. In other words, the video of the two monkeys eating honey is not real; it was created using AI.
International media guidelines on using AI
UK broadcaster Channel 4 has published editorial guidelines on AI for its content. The guidelines state that synthetic media that could mislead viewers cannot be used without a label. Using AI to misrepresent or distort reality is also prohibited. There is no scope to create fabricated quotes, footage, or events using AI.
According to the BBC’s editorial guidelines on AI, generative AI should not be used to directly create news content published or broadcast by BBC News/Nations, current affairs or factual journalism unless it is the subject of the content and its use is illustrative. The sole exception is when AI itself is the subject of the news. This part of the guidelines has been cited in a research briefing for the UK Parliament.
One of the three core principles followed by the BBC to govern the use of generative AI is transparency and accountability. The guidelines state that viewers and readers must be informed when AI is involved. It must also be explained why and how AI was used.
