The Viral Fake Video
You've probably seen it circulating on social media: a video of a Tesla Cybertruck, the electric pickup from Tesla, apparently pierced by a huge, pointed chunk of ice that goes right through the windshield into the interior. Let me tell you straight up—this is completely fake. As someone who's looked into this, I can assert that the scene was created using artificial intelligence.
Details of the Post
The post appeared on X this Monday (26th), racking up more than 350,000 views. The caption, in English, reads: 'I wonder how this happened?' It conveniently leaves out that the footage was generated with a Google AI tool—I'll get into the details shortly.
Context Amid the US Winter Storm
This fake clip went viral right in the middle of a severe winter storm that hit the United States recently. That storm caused dozens of deaths and left over 500,000 people without power. It's in this chaotic backdrop that the misleading content spread, fooling some into thinking it was real.
Community Response and Indicators
After the post, X added a community note stating, in English: 'This video is AI. The Cybertruck doesn't have turn signal levers behind the steering wheel, which indicates it's fake.' In the comments, many users pointed out it's synthetic material. However, some believed it, with comments like: 'All that talk about being armored and defeated by ice,' and 'Better a car's windshield than a person's head.'
Why It's Fake: AI Detection Results
- I submitted the video to Hive Moderation, which gave a 99.9% probability that the content is synthetic.
- SynthID analysis indicates the video was made, in part or fully, using Google's AI.
Real Cybertruck Comparison
Back in June 2024, a test drive of the first Cybertruck unit in Brazil confirmed the community note's claim. Recordings of the vehicle's interior show no turn signal levers behind the steering wheel, unlike what's depicted in the fake video. If you compare frames, the discrepancy is clear: the AI version has them, but the real one doesn't.
Final Thoughts and Related Checks
This is just one example of how AI can create convincing but false content. For more fact-checks, consider other debunked claims, like the fake story about the US 'owning' Greenland during World War II and 'returning' it to Denmark. Stay vigilant, and if you're interested, check out videos from reliable sources on these topics.
