The enduring frustration with certain aspects of artificial intelligence is resurfacing once again this week, as individuals are still falling for a widely circulated, yet completely fabricated, image depicting a supposed Diddy-focused prediction from The Simpsons as genuine. To set the record straight, the image in question, initially shared on Facebook in late March, is unequivocally fake, as confirmed by USA Today. In a recent report from TMZ, Matt Selman, the current showrunner of The Simpsons, has addressed the confusion caused by A.I. technology.
Selman emphasized that amidst the current era of digital misinformation, the so-called ‘predictions’ from The Simpsons have lost their significance and are merely coincidences. He expressed his concern that anyone can easily create and spread fake images, ultimately diminishing the once-enjoyable practice of linking global events to classic Simpsons moments. While there have been instances of instances where reality overlaps with scenarios from the long-running show, these are not predictions but rather a testament to the extensive tenure of the animated series and the countless jokes it has produced over the years.
The questionable image that sparked the current controversy was debunked nearly two months ago by USA Today, tracing its origins back to a Facebook post by Kevin Rivera, known as DJ Skandalous. Meta subsequently flagged the image with an ‘altered photo’ warning in response to concerns raised by independent fact-checkers about its potential to mislead users on the platform. Selman has previously clarified the falsity of widely shared images claiming to depict authentic Simpsons moments, highlighting that the issue extends beyond recent events involving Diddy.