August 29, 2025
The GIST When AI blurs reality: The rise of hyperreal digital culture 
Sadie Harley
scientific editor
Andrew Zinin
lead editor
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From Bigfoot vlogs to algorithmically created personas, hyperrealistic AI content is redefining the boundaries of digital creators. These influencers are entirely virtual personas created using generative AI tools that simulate human features, voices, and behaviors. They post lifestyle content, interact with followers, and even secure brand endorsements—all without existing in the physical world.
As these technologies grow more widely available and their results more believable, specialists caution that we are moving into a new age where the line separating fiction from reality is becoming increasingly blurred.
The rise of synthetic creativity
Experts at Georgia Tech say the surge in AI hyperrealism—content that mimics human emotion, speech, and appearance with uncanny precision—is both a technological marvel and a societal challenge.
"AI does not have emotions as we understand them in humans, but it knows how to mimic emotional speech," said Mark Riedl, professor in the School of Interactive Computing.
"Once we understand that AI is mimicking us, it is easy to understand how they can create believable outputs that sound authentic."
Riedl points to the democratization of video creation as a major shift. "AI video generation tools and the ability to bypass traditional content channels and post directly to social media have opened up the floodgates," he said.
Recent examples include synthetic influencers such as Nobody Sausage, a digitally animated character that has attracted over 30 million followers across multiple social media platforms through short-form dance videos and brand collaborations. On platforms like Character.AI, users engage with millions of virtual personas designed to simulate conversation and personality traits. These AI-generated figures are reshaping how audiences interact with content, marketing, and identity across Instagram, TikTok, and other social media channels.
Mental health and the reality gap
Munmun De Choudhury, professor in the School of Interactive Computing, warns that hyperreal AI content can distort users' perception of reality, especially among vulnerable populations.
"This distortion can fuel anxiety, exacerbate body image and self-comparison issues, and contribute to a broader erosion of epistemic trust—our basic belief in what others present as true," she said.
Her research shows that social media already blurs the line between authentic self-expression and performative identity. Hyperreal AI content—from deepfakes to emotionally resonant synthetic personas—further complicates users' ability to evaluate what is real or trustworthy. Adolescents and those facing mental health challenges may be especially susceptible.
"Individuals experiencing stress or social isolation may be more prone to believe deepfakes," De Choudhury explained. "Such content often reinforces existing beliefs or fills gaps in social connection."
The AI content challenges our understanding of authenticity, trust, and digital identity. It also raises questions about consent, misinformation, and the psychological effects of interacting with synthetic personas. Gen Z users, she notes, often judge AI content by emotional resonance rather than factual accuracy, while older users may struggle to detect synthetic cues altogether.
Platforms, persuasion, and misinformation
Riedl emphasizes that AI storytelling tools can be used to sway public opinion through "narrative transportation," a psychological phenomenon in which audiences become immersed in a story and are less likely to question its truth.
"Storytelling is a means of persuasive communication," he said. "Our brains are attuned to stories in a way that can bypass critical thinking."
Recent incidents highlight the changing landscape. Deepfakes of public figures such as Taylor Swift and Tom Hanks have surged in 2025, with over 179 incidentsin the first four months of the year alone—surpassing all of 2024. These deepfakes range from humorous impersonations to fraudulent and explicit content, raising ethical and legal concerns about identity misuse and misinformation.
Riedl notes that video misinformation has historically been harder to produce but is now easier and more likely to be tailored to niche audiences.
Social media companies face mounting pressure to take action. De Choudhury argues that labeling AI-generated content is necessary but insufficient.
"Platforms must invest in user-centered design, digital literacy interventions, and transparency about how algorithms surface such content," she said.
The stakes are especially high in mental health communities, where authenticity and lived experience are critical. "Users often feel overwhelmed or deceived when they encounter synthetic content without clear cues of its artificial origin," she added.
Governance in a globalized AI era
Milton Mueller, professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, argues that regulation may be ineffective or even counterproductive in a decentralized digital ecosystem.
"Generative AI is part of a globalized and distributed digital ecosystem," Mueller said. "So, which regulatory authority are you talking about, and how does it gain the leverage needed to control the outputs?"
While the EU's AI Act mandates labeling and imposes steep fines, U.S. efforts remain fragmented. The Federal Communications Commission has made AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal, with entities facing fines, and several states are pushing for watermarking and criminal penalties for political deepfakes. But experts warn that First Amendment protections complicate enforcement.
Mueller cautions that governments are already using AI as a geopolitical tool, which could undermine global cooperation and lead to strategic escalation. "Instead of freely trading data and establishing common rules, governments are asserting digital sovereignty," he said.
He advocates for addressing AI-generated misinformation through decentralized governance, public debate, and media literacy, rather than centralized regulation or automated controls, emphasizing that content moderation should be guided by open processes and existing legal remedies applied after the fact.
As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated and widespread, researchers say the challenge lies not only in technological safeguards but in how society adapts. Experts at Georgia Tech emphasize the need for transparency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement. The future of hyperreal media, they say, will depend on how well platforms, policymakers, and users navigate its risks and possibilities.
Provided by Georgia Institute of Technology Citation: When AI blurs reality: The rise of hyperreal digital culture (2025, August 29) retrieved 29 August 2025 from https://techxplore.com/news/2025-08-ai-blurs-reality-hyperreal-digital.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
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