Current:Home > reviewsA Winnie the Pooh crockpot captures social media's attention. The problem? It's not real. -EquityZone
A Winnie the Pooh crockpot captures social media's attention. The problem? It's not real.
View
Date:2025-04-17 18:53:11
Oh, bother!
Winnie the Pooh lovers were recently let down when an AI-generated image of a Winnie the Pooh crockpot being sold at Walmart made its rounds on social media.
Although Walmart does sell a Winnie the Pooh crockpot, this is different from the one going viral online. The doctored image shows a crockpot bearing the smiling face of the Disney character in all his round glory. Covered in flowers, the Pooh-inspired crockpot even includes his iconic red t-shirt and a button in its center to crank the kitchen gadget up.
Walmart did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment but Walmart's website does not appear to have the product in its inventory. The general consensus online from users is that the picture is not authentic. Additionally, the image has all the telltale signs of being fake.
The suspected AI-generated picture was shared on both Reddit and Facebook, leading eager shoppers to ask where they could get their hands on one of the crockpots.
“I want this for my wife,” wrote one Facebook user. “Where can I get it please?”
Another Facebook user inquired about the crockpot as a gift for their granddaughter, adding that she’d love it.
Reddit users talk AI and how to spot fakes
The Winnie the Pooh crockpot also made its way to Reddit. When users began to ask where they could pick one up, others shut it down swiftly.
One Redditor said seeing the crockpot image was the first time they didn’t recognize an image as fake or produced via AI.
But another user said they could tell it was fake because the dial to control the device had nothing on it. And Redditor ariana_mcclair said the letters gave it away.
“AI cannot do letters or numbers correctly or cohesively,” the user wrote. “Look at the ‘goole cure’ and even the squished up ‘Walmart’ on the box in the background.”
The user added that whoever created the image prompted AI to make the crockpot image, then edited “Winnie the Pooh” and crockpot onto the image to make it look real.
Other users were more focused on where to get an actual Winnie the Pooh crockpot since the one pictured wasn’t real.
A quick Google search shows that there are some other Pooh-inspired crockpots on Amazon, BoxLunch, and Walmart as previously mentioned. Whether they will be as much of a hit as the doctored fake crockpot is yet to be seen.
AI images can be dangerous
The crockpot image and others like them have started discussions about how to pursue legal action in more serious cases where AI is used to produce explicit content against those who create them.
Most recently, sexually explicit images of songstress Taylor Swift went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter. As of Monday morning, searches for Taylor Swift on the app lead to a message reading "Something went wrong. Try reloading."
At least 10 states have passed laws banning exploitative deepfake pornography or AI-generated images, audio files or videos with sexual content though, including Texas, Virginia and South Dakota.
There is no federal law regulating it.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Kayla Jimenez, Elizabeth Weise, and Jeanine Santucci
veryGood! (77888)
Related
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Utah lawsuit seeks state control over vast areas of federal land
- James Taylor addresses scrapped performance at DNC 2024: 'Sorry to disappoint'
- Some Florida counties had difficulty reporting primary election results to the public, officials say
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Los Angeles FC vs. Colorado Rapids Leagues Cup semifinal: How to watch Wednesday's game
- Orson Merrick: A Journey Through Financial Expertise and Resilience
- Canada’s two major freight railroads may stop Thursday if contract dispute isn’t resolved
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Florence Welch joins Taylor Swift on stage in Wembley
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Brian Flores responds to Tua Tagovailoa criticism: 'There's things that I could do better'
- Richard Simmons' Cause of Death Revealed
- Incumbents beat DeSantis-backed candidates in Florida school board race
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- What Ben Affleck Was Up to When Jennifer Lopez Filed for Divorce
- Police raid Andrew Tate’s home in Romania as new allegations emerge involving minors
- Incumbents beat DeSantis-backed candidates in Florida school board race
Recommendation
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
What Jennifer Lopez Was Doing the Day of Ben Affleck Breakup
Hoda Kotb Shares Dating Experience That Made Her Stop Being a “Fixer”
Richard Simmons' Cause of Death Revealed
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Delaware State football misses flight to Hawaii for season opener, per report
3 ways you could reduce your Social Security check by mistake
Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union Leagues Cup semifinal: How to watch Wednesday's game