Imagine waking up in ancient Rome, navigating the bustling markets of medieval London, or witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius firsthand. AI videos are bringing these moments to life and offering a first-person perspective on history.
Creators like Dan from POV Lab and Hogne from Time Traveller POV have gained millions of views on TikTok by crafting these immersive experiences. Their goal? To make history feel real and engaging. But while these videos captivate audiences, historians are sounding the alarm about accuracy and potential misinformation.
History Experts Call Out Major Inaccuracies
Experts argue that AI-generated history videos often get critical details wrong. They may be visually striking but they frequently include modern elements that don’t belong in the past.
- Medieval London Missteps: Dr. Amy Boyington, a historian, describes one viral video about the Black Death as “amateurish and sensational.” She points out that the video shows large glazed windows and a train track. None existed in the 1300s.
- Pompeii’s Lava Problem: Archaeologist Dr. Hannah Platts criticizes a video depicting Mount Vesuvius’ eruption. She noted that historical accounts from Pliny the Younger show that lava didn’t spew out immediately. Additionally, the video includes modern wine glasses and bread that look nothing like the carbonized loaves found in Pompeii ruins.
- Ancient Egypt Errors: Professor of Egyptology Elizabeth Frood highlights issues in a video about life in Egypt in 1250 BC. The video homogenizes thousands of years of Egyptian history and even has a teacher reading hieroglyphs backward.
The Risk of Rewriting History
Historians worry that these inaccuracies could lead to widespread misconceptions about history. Dr. Boyington warns that AI-generated content could be manipulated for misinformation, such as altering historical narratives to fit false agendas.
“People could create AI videos that support conspiracy theories, like those denying the Holocaust,” she explains.
Even more concerning is that younger audiences, who may not have strong historical knowledge, could take these AI-generated depictions as fact.
Are These Videos More Art Than Education?
Dan, one of the creators, acknowledges that his videos are not 100% accurate. “AI-generated content isn’t perfect. I strive for accuracy, but my goal is to evoke a feeling of the time period rather than provide a documentary-style history lesson,” he says.
Hogne, who has a background in digital media but not history, says he does his best to ensure historical accuracy but admits that AI makes mistakes. “I try to catch them, but sometimes small details slip through,” he says.
Also read: The Best AI Video Generators
The Growing Role of AI in Historical Storytelling
AI-generated history videos may be flawed but they also have potential benefits:
- Sparking Interest: Many historians agree that these videos can inspire people to learn more about history.
- Making History Accessible: AI-generated content allows people to experience historical settings in a new way.
- Future Improvements: As AI tools improve, creators may be able to generate more historically accurate content with greater ease.
Professor Barbara Keys, a historian at Durham University, suggests that AI-generated history could be valuable if paired with transparency and proper sourcing. “If done accurately and reliably, this could be an immense benefit to public historical awareness,” she says.
The Need for Critical Thinking
At the end of the day, AI-generated history videos highlight both the power and the pitfalls of artificial intelligence. While they bring history to life in a visually compelling way, they also reinforce the need for critical thinking and proper research.
Creators like Hogne and Dan are already considering adding sources to their videos, which could improve credibility. Meanwhile, historians encourage viewers to fact-check what they see online and remember that AI is still far from perfect when it comes to historical accuracy.
So, are AI history videos the future of learning, or are they just modern-day myths in the making? The answer lies in how responsibly they’re created—and how critically they’re consumed.
