BRANSON, Mo. – The growth of AI-generated photos is having the Missouri State Highway Patrol remind the public to be wary of these posts across social media.
One post that has been circulating across Facebook is a picture of a highway overtaken by a large number of bears lounging on the road.
Many claimed it to be U.S. Highway 65 in Branson, Missouri, adding “A group of wild black bears has taken over highway 65 near Branson Missouri. This is abnormal and attributed to the change in temperatures due to climate change.”
This photo has been debunked as AI-generated, but the consistent sharing of the photo along with comments point out that these images are believable to some.
While the MSHP says they have not received any reports from citizens about the post, they are still reminding users to be wary of what they see and consume online.
“They should verify any questionable posts, pictures, or videos they see through verified sources such as mainstream media outlets, government agencies, or with the source who is allegedly providing the information,” Assistant Director of the MSHP Public Information and Education Division Lt. Eric Brown told FOX 2.