Current:Home > NewsA Winnie the Pooh crockpot captures social media's attention. The problem? It's not real. -Blueprint Money Mastery
A Winnie the Pooh crockpot captures social media's attention. The problem? It's not real.
View
Date:2025-04-17 08:44:06
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! (53482)
Related
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Facebook takes down China-based network spreading false COVID-19 claims
- TikTok sees a surge of misleading videos that claim to show the invasion of Ukraine
- Avril Lavigne Confronts Topless Protestor Onstage at 2023 Juno Awards
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Embattled Activision Blizzard to employees: 'consider the consequences' of unionizing
- Blac Chyna Reveals Her Next Cosmetic Procedure Following Breast and Butt Reduction Surgery
- Mexico finds tons of liquid meth in tequila bottles at port
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Kurtis Blow breaks hip-hop nationally with his 1980 debut
Ranking
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- A top Chinese ride-hailing company delists from the NYSE just months after its IPO
- From living rooms to landfills, some holiday shopping returns take a 'very sad path'
- Ulta 24-Hour Flash Sale: Take 50% Off Elizabeth Arden, Dermablend, Nudestix, Belif, Korres, and More
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Irma Olguin: Why we should bring tech economies to underdog cities
- Sudan fighting rages despite ceasefire calls as death toll climbs over 400
- Kenyan cult deaths at 73, president likens them to terrorism
Recommendation
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Hackers disrupt payroll for thousands of employers — including hospitals
Irma Olguin: Why we should bring tech economies to underdog cities
Cycling Mikey is every bad London driver's worst nightmare
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Ukrainian girls' math team wins top European spot during olympiad
Keanu Reeves Has the Most Excellent Reaction to a Fan's Marriage Proposal
For $186,000, this private Scottish island could be yours — but don't count on being able to live there