AI Food Scam Videos Draw 25 Million Views as 150 Instagram Profiles Amass 23 Million Followers
Updated
Updated · EL PAÍS USA · Jul 22
AI Food Scam Videos Draw 25 Million Views as 150 Instagram Profiles Amass 23 Million Followers
1 articles · Updated · EL PAÍS USA · Jul 22
Summary
More than 25 million views went to one fake food-safety clip, part of a wider surge of AI-generated videos using invented personas to spread false claims about fish, apples and other everyday foods.
A review of 150 Instagram accounts found over 23 million combined followers, with cloned scripts reposted across hundreds or thousands of profiles tailored by language, age and identity to build trust.
Those campaigns fit the broader “AI slop” boom: near-autonomous accounts can spot trending health topics, generate scripts, create hyper-realistic presenters, publish posts and optimize what performs best.
The false advice can distort diets, push bogus e-books and remedies, and damage brands or sectors, while weak moderation and inconsistent AI labeling let some accounts spread misinformation even with verification badges.
The deeper shift is evidentiary: as generative video becomes harder to distinguish from reality, debunking grows costlier and viewers must rely more on source checks than on what appears on screen.
How are AI-made fake health experts building millions of followers—and why can’t platforms stop their viral food myths?
If video can no longer prove a person is real, how can users spot dangerous AI health hoaxes before sharing them?
The 2026 AI Food Scam Surge: How Synthetic Influencers and Deepfakes Are Fueling a Global Health Crisis
Overview
In 2026, AI-generated food and health scams have exploded, with deepfakes and synthetic influencers creating a coordinated ecosystem that spreads panic and misinformation at industrial scale. Scammers use cloned faces and voices of real doctors to endorse fake cures, while automated AI accounts generate highly targeted, emotionally manipulative content with minimal human effort. These scams funnel users to fake news sites and deceptive sales pages, bypassing traditional safety checks as flawless AI-generated media becomes mainstream. The result is real-world harm, reputational damage for professionals, and a severe erosion of public trust, while platforms and laws struggle to keep up with the evolving threat.