The 14,000 followers of ‘Historic Boston Archives’ are…

The Facebook page 'Historical Boston Archives' has faced significant backlash from its 14,000 followers after posting AI-generated videos that misrepresent historical Boston. Users have been quick to identify the content as artificial, citing glaring inaccuracies and strange visual artifacts as evidence of the page's reliance on synthetic media.

What happened

The videos, which purportedly depict various Boston locations throughout the 20th century, were identified as AI-generated due to numerous errors. In a video claiming to show the Custom House in the 1970s, the name 'Boston' was misspelled, cars were depicted driving in the wrong direction, and signs contained gibberish text. Other examples included a 1920s-era video of Copley Square showing cars moving without drivers, and a 1930s depiction of Guay’s Bakery in Dorchester featuring a bizarre, AI-generated voiceover. Followers responded with mockery, pointing out historical impossibilities and criticizing the lack of authenticity. John Wihbey, a professor at Northeastern University, noted that these errors are common in early-stage AI technology, which often struggles with signage, lettering, and consistent physics. He cautioned that such 'AI slop' can damage collective memory by warping how people remember the past, especially when creators fail to label the content as artificial or use it primarily for engagement and monetization.