A recent influx of videos supposedly showing “drones” or other spooky unidentified aerial phenomena flying over darkened US skylines appears to be the result, in part, of AI-trickery.
Since late November, residents in New Jersey and at least five other states have reported spotting bright objects flying overhead. The sightings have stirred speculation, amplified by celebrities, commentators, and prominent public officials, that this is nefarious, experimental technology. Or aliens.
[ Related: Sorry, but the mystery drones are pretty normal (probably) ]
Now, several of the viral videos surfacing on TikTok and X over the past week are capitalizing on the panic; they also appear to exhibit the hallmark calling cards of generative AI manipulation. Almost none of the videos reviewed by Popular Science had any official label or disclosure from social media platforms warning users about possible digital editing.
By searching for variations of “drones” and “New Jersey drones” on TikTok and X, Popular Science found numerous videos featuring odd distortions that seem to indicate that the content is AI-generated or digitally manipulated. In one example posted last week that had gained 36,000 likes, a group of two dozen large bright lights coalesce over a city skyline. Low-toned, creepy music plays in the background. A booming blue aura flashes underneath the swarm as “Large amounts of drones spotted flying over New Jersey” appears in massive text. The top-liked comment reads “that’s project blue beam,” a reference to a reappearing conspiracy theory that alleges a cabal of elites has plans to stage a fake extraterrestrial invasion. The video, screengrabbed below, was removed after Popular Science reached out to TikTok for comment earlier today.
Another, even more obvious example shows an orange, flying saucer-shaped orb levitating over New York City. As the object moves closer to the user it suddenly glows orange and…
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