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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Holly Patrick

BBC legend issues warning over ‘AI slop’ animal videos

Steve Backshall

Steve Backshall has issued a stark warning over what he described as “AI slop” animal videos.

The broadcaster, 52, who is best known for his BBC Deadly... series, posted a TikTok video highlighting how AI videos like animals rescuing other animals have gone viral online.

He warned against the “Disneyfication of nature,” which one user on X pointed out could “get someone killed.”

“All of these kinds of AI are designed to pull on our heartstrings, but also to play on a desire to humanise animals, to see bravery, altruism...This is just a Disneyfication of nature. It is not real,” Backshall said.

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