COROLLA, NC – Images circulating on social media depicting North Carolina’s wild horses wrapped in insulation material are not what they seem. The posts, which gained traction on Facebook, falsely claimed that volunteers were protecting the horses from an approaching winter storm by covering them in recycled insulation and duct tape.
The images, shared widely and prompting concern for the animals’ welfare, have been debunked as artificially generated by artificial intelligence. The posts originated with a claim from a purported nonprofit organization called “Outer Banks People,” stating they were wrapping the horses “to keep them warm during extreme cold” and soliciting donations of insulation and duct tape.
The Colonial Spanish Mustangs that roam the Outer Banks of North Carolina are a beloved symbol of the region. The area was bracing for record-breaking snow and freezing temperatures when the images began to spread, lending a deceptive air of credibility to the claims.
However, investigations revealed that “Outer Banks People” does not exist. Further scrutiny of the profiles sharing the images uncovered a pattern of other bizarre, AI-generated content, including rodents in prison uniforms and strangely hybridized animals.
Chris Winter, CEO of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, confirmed to Popular Science that the entire narrative was fabricated. “It’s completely fake; the pictures are AI generated,” Winter stated. He expressed regret over the widespread dissemination of the posts, noting they caused “considerable and widespread concern for the horses’ wellbeing.”
This incident echoes research published last year in the journal Conservation Biology, which highlighted the growing problem of AI-generated videos and images of wildlife. The study warned of the potential for such content to create false impressions of the animal world and to mislead the public about genuine conservation challenges.
The proliferation of AI-generated misinformation on social media platforms poses a serious threat to journalistic integrity and public trust. While AI offers immense potential for creativity and innovation, it also possesses an unprecedented capacity to deceive and manipulate audiences.
The case of the insulated horses underscores the need for extreme caution and critical thinking when consuming and sharing online content, particularly when it involves sensitive issues like animal welfare and environmental protection. Individuals must adopt a more skeptical approach, verifying sources and carefully scrutinizing information before accepting it as true or assisting in its spread.
News organizations and research institutions continue to emphasize the importance of digital literacy, educating the public on how to distinguish fact from fiction in the digital age. Without these crucial skills, AI-generated content risks undermining legitimate conservation efforts and creating confusion around pressing issues that demand genuine attention.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that the line between reality and illusion is becoming increasingly blurred, and that continued vigilance remains the first line of defense against the widespread dissemination of misinformation.
