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\n NASA\u2019s Artemis II is set to return to Earth on Friday, after its astronauts travelled further from Earth than any humans before. But the historic lunar flyby also inflamed conspiracy theories online about a \u201cstaged\u201d mission, and triggered a wave of fake viral AI videos. <\/p>\n
From the dark side of the moon to the dark side of the internet\u2026scores of social media users falsely claimed NASA\u2019s mission was filmed using a green screen, sharing AI images of a staging, as well as a CNN live interview snippet where the floating Artemis mascot was \u201cglitching\u201d as text appeared to bleed through the solid plush toy.<\/p>\n
In reality, the CNN live stream shows no such defect. The viral video – filmed on a mobile phone camera-\u00a0 is likely a television graphics error, with text overlaid behind the footage by the broadcaster.<\/p>\n
As well as the stunning, authentic photos of the Moon and Earth sent by the Artemis II crew, there\u2019s also scores of fantastical – and AI-generated – images going viral, racking up millions of views.<\/p>\n