AI-Generated Videos Contribute to Anxiety Amid Japan's Bear Attacks

A record number of bear attacks in Japan, resulting in 13 fatalities this year, has heightened public anxiety, and experts warn that a surge of AI-generated videos is exacerbating this fear. According to The Guardian, these videos, primarily shared on platforms like TikTok, depict realistic encounters between humans and bears, including clips of bears attacking, stealing pets, or being fed by unsuspecting individuals.

While some videos are marked as fake, the authenticity of many is so convincing that they can mislead viewers, making it difficult for users to differentiate between real and fabricated content. The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that a search for bear-related videos found around 60 percent of selected clips were AI-generated, using technology from OpenAI, with some containing accurate references to recent bear sightings.

Experts express concern that these misleading videos could undermine critical public safety messages about what to do during a bear encounter, especially as bear sightings have dramatically increased due to factors like food shortages in their natural habitats.

The report notes that with 20,700 bear sightings reported between April and September, a staggering 7,000 more than the previous year, everyday life in northern Japan is being disrupted. Local authorities are urging residents to be cautious, as improper interactions with bears, such as feeding them, can lead to dangerous situations.

The increased presence of bears in urban areas is attributed to decades of rural depopulation and the resulting blurring of boundaries between human habitats and forests. However, it is the proliferation of AI-generated videos, aimed at capitalizing on public interest, that poses a dual threat—heightening anxiety while potentially leading to dangerous behaviors among the public.

As Japan grapples with both real bear threats and the misinformation spread by AI technologies, the ethical implications of such content creation come into sharp focus, raising questions about responsibility and public safety in an era of advanced artificial intelligence.