New Search

Check the Claim: Does this video really show a polar bear cub rescue?

SKILL: Check the Claim

DIFFICULTY: Simple

SUBJECT(S): AI

Students will use a keyword search to learn that this adorable video of a cuddly polar bear cub being rescued is AI-generated.

Related Lesson

CTRL-F Lesson 3: Check the Claim

Link to Example

Polar Bear Rescue (TikTok)
Still from TikTok video showing a polar bear cub being held on deck of a boat. Black text with white outline on top of image says "AI Generated Video."

Background

Generative AI programs can be used to not only create photo-realistic images, but videos, as well. These programs are trained on a data-set of thousands of images and videos, which it uses to generate new images and videos. The person using the AI program can use text to describe what video they want the AI program to produce.



About the Example

If you can’t access TikTok, click here to view the video on our YouTube channel.

This TikTok video depicts what appears to be a boat crew interacting with a cuddly polar bear cub in the arctic. It is accompanied by the caption, “[t]his adorable polar bear was rescued and now has a second chance at life.” This feel-good video received lots of love online, but is it too cute to be true?

By using a keyword search, we quickly get our answer from Snopes, a professional fact checking organization. They rate the video as “fake” and trace it back to a TikTok account dedicated to creating AI-generated content.



Activities 

  1. Show students the video and ask them to summarize the claim.
  2. Have students use a keyword search (“polar bear cub rescue video”) to see if other sources are reporting on this story.
  3. Have students click into the Snope’s article on the video. Guiding questions:
    • What context did you learn about the video? 
    • Why might the video have been shared out of its original context?


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