Influencer Fools Fans With AI Park Bo Gum Photo

In an age where digital content blurs the line between reality and fiction, it is becoming increasingly difficult to discern what is real online. The power of artificial intelligence was recently put on full display in a viral social media post.

An Influencer's AI Date with a K-Drama Star

Local influencer and content creator Cheryl Chin, 23, recently sparked a wave of confusion and excitement with an Instagram post. The photo featured her sitting in a restaurant next to a man who bore a striking resemblance to South Korean actor Park Bo-gum.

Adding to the realism, she captioned the post with a casual and friendly message: "Thanks for such a wonderful catchup while you were here!" and even tagged the famous actor.

Widespread Confusion Among Followers

While the post was an experiment with AI-generated imagery, many of her followers took it at face value. The comment section quickly filled with envious remarks from fans who believed Cheryl had the chance to meet the beloved star. Many admitted they were genuinely tricked by how convincing the picture was.

The confusion didn't stop there. Some netizens speculated that the man in the photo was the public debut of her new boyfriend, the 'Mystery Man' she had mentioned on her Instagram three months prior. This speculation comes after her divorce from local OnlyFans creator Titus Low in November 2023. The pair share a two-year-old daughter, Elleria, who now lives with Cheryl.

The Skeptics and a Surprising Comparison

However, not everyone was fooled. A handful of more discerning fans pointed out that the image was likely generated by AI. One user commented, ‘AI is getting better, but I’ve seen Bo-gum enough to know this is AI.’

Does the AI creation resemble the Korean heartthrob?

Interestingly, another common observation was that the AI-generated man looked less like Park Bo-gum and more like a different celebrity altogether: local actor Glenn Yong.

Many thought the AI figure resembled Glenn Yong more closely.

This incident serves as a potent reminder of how advanced AI technology has become, making it easier than ever to create highly realistic and deceptive content.

Cheryl has yet to reveal the face of her actual new partner.