AI can now fake the videos we trust most. How to tell the difference—and how newsrooms can respond

The footage was real, verified, and delightful: a security camera clip of a coyote bouncing on a backyard trampoline in Los Angeles. Days after the video went viral, near-identical kangaroos, bears, and rabbits began circulating too, all generated by AI. Millions shared them, believing they’d captured another glimpse of animals behaving hilariously.

It was an amusing mix-up, but it was also a warning.

AI-generated video tools have moved far beyond producing surreal or obviously manipulated clips.