Watch out for viral AI videos of the Artemis II lunar flyby

Despite the fact that the Artemis II astronauts have been sending back absolutely stunning photos and videos of the lunar surface, a never-before-seen solar eclipse, Earthrise, and Earthset, viral AI videos of the moon are also going viral.

As with any major news event, AI slop farmers are taking the opportunity to share misleading and fabricated AI videos of the Artemis II mission. And even some of the more obvious examples of fake AI videos are racking up millions of views on platforms like X and TikTok.

We've seen the same phenomenon occur with other recent news events, from lighthearted viral moments like Punch the monkey to much more serious events like the war in Iran.

AI video models have become much more sophisticated over the past year, and it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality online. However, careful observation can often identify clear tells that you're watching an AI video. In other cases, common sense can be your guide.

As the world watched the Artemis II lunar flyby, some social media users have been sharing fantastical AI videos and images depicting rocks rolling across the lunar surface or impossible geological formations. Other users are representing images of the lunar surface as if they were high-definition videos captured by the Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by its crew.

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As ever, look for AI artifacts that suggest you're watching altered or synthetic content. AI videos also tend to be made up of very short clips, typically eight to 15 seconds in length. Finally, they will typically be posted by low-authority accounts with a history of posting AI slop and engagement bait.

Fortunately, the imagery sent back from Orion has been breathtaking.

So, if you're looking for never-before-seen glimpses of the lunar surface or planet Earth, all you have to do is bookmark the NASA image and video library — or keep an eye on Mashable's space coverage.

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