Katy Perry may not have walked the red carpet at this year's Met Gala, but her AI-generated doppelganger certainly made a splash online. A photo depicting Perry in a stunning, flower and moss-embroidered gown, seemingly attending the prestigious fashion event, racked up a staggering nine million views on Twitter before the truth emerged: it was a masterfully crafted fake.
Sharp-eyed social media sleuths noticed several inconsistencies. Firstly, the intricate gown, while perfectly capturing the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" theme, wasn't Perry herself. It was a product of sophisticated AI technology. Secondly, the background didn't align with the 2024 Met Gala scenery. A closer look revealed it was actually a recycled backdrop from 2018.
Despite these telltale signs, the image's sheer ingenuity fooled many. "Katy Perry. That's it. #MetGala," declared the caption, prompting a wave of confused yet impressed tweets. "Not me falling for this AI edit at first," admitted one user, echoing the sentiment of many. Another commented, "Wait. It's AI-generated?! I got fooled." As the views skyrocketed, a sense of humor tinged the discourse: "100k and climbing? Oh robots are going to eat us alive," joked another viewer.
The viral fun didn't stop there. Another AI-generated image of Perry, sporting a different gown but equally flawless, began circulating. Though riddled with subtle visual anomalies, particularly around the thumbs and eyes, it garnered nearly three million views.
Unfazed by the online trickery, the real Katy Perry took the whole thing in stride, even embracing the virtual imposters. She playfully "liked" both photos on her verified Twitter account, acknowledging the internet's amusement. On Instagram, she shared the AI creations with a humorous caption: "Couldn't make it to the MET, had to work," she wrote, winking at the situation.
The cherry on top? Even Perry's mom got swept up in the AI frenzy. Sharing a screenshot of a text from her mom, Perry revealed her mother's enthusiastic praise for the (nonexistent) Met Gala dress: "Ha Feather [Perry's nickname]! Didn't know you went to the Met. What a gorgeous gown, you look like a Rose Parade, you are your own float lol," her mom texted. Perry's playful reply perfectly captured the moment: "lol mom the AI got to you too, BEWARE."
This isn't the first time AI has made waves at the Met Gala. Last year, a similar situation unfolded with Selena Gomez. A doctored photo depicting Gomez in a blue, one-shoulder dress garnered a whopping 25 million views, becoming the most-liked photo on Twitter then. However, investigation soon revealed it was Gomez's face superimposed on actress Lily James' actual Met Gala outfit from the previous year.
The Katy Perry incident highlights the growing sophistication of AI technology and its potential to blur the lines between reality and fabrication on social media. Whether these incidents spark conversation about responsible use of AI or simply provide a moment of lighthearted amusement, one thing's for sure: the virtual red carpet is getting more crowded by the day.