AI generated fake ad for a Buckingham Palace Christmas market. What the tourists found conquered by the message
When she arrived at Buckingham Palace on Friday, November 21, a Polish tourist expected to see a traditional Christmas market, but found that it was all a hoax. She wasn't the only one to fall prey to an AI scam.
Tourists hoped for a fairy-tale atmosphere, but found that they were deceived. PHOTO Shutterstock
Brygida, like other tourists, was deceived by a false advertisement illustrated with an image generated by artificial intelligence, informs AFP, quoted by Agerpres.
“I came here because I thought it was true”explained the 25-year-old tourist.
The woman confessed:
“I thought I was lucky” to be able to see the first Christmas market organized in front of the royal residence in London, “and we were very sad when we realized that there was nothing''.
Several messages published online and circulated around the world in several languages, including Thai, Portuguese, Arabic or Armenian promised “the experience of a unique royal Christmas”.
“He said there would be a Christmas market for the first time at Buckingham Palace”
The photo illustrating this fake event was an AI-generated image of a Christmas market and featured small wooden cabins and festive lights.
“I saw it on Instagram and TikTok. It was saying there was going to be a Christmas market for the first time at Buckingham Palace.”reported Emma Paxton, a 26-year-old engineer originally from Boston, United States.
A Frenchman who lives in London, says for his part that “heard a lot of talk about it” among his friends who live abroad about this so-called fair.
“Now I understand it's made with AI”Lucas said.
Several netizens posted videos online to denounce the scam, especially travel blogs like Love and London.
Announcement made by the Royal Collection Trust
The AI-generated image began circulating in September after the Royal Collection Trust (RCT), which organizes visits to Buckingham Palace, hinted at the opening of a small Christmas shop at the palace.
RCT published an advertisement on its website stating that this store is not “a Christmas market” and that “there will be no Christmas market at Buckingham Palace”
Signs near the palace on Friday indicated the direction of this Christmas shop, which sells souvenirs such as chocolates and tea boxes with the effigy of the royal family.
