"While the lifelike image appeared to show a partial collapse, the bridge had in reality sustained no damage whatsoever. Overall, 32 services were delayed or halted due to the hoax, a mix of passenger and freight trains. According to a spokesperson from Network Rail, which operates the line in question, trains up and down the line were affected in turn, some of them as far north as Scotland."
"While the social impact seems to be minimal, it's yet another example of the kind of real-world disruption that's being caused by the rapid rise in misinformation fueled by generative AI - and shows that even seasoned officials are falling victim to AI hoaxes. 'The disruption caused by the creation and sharing of hoax images and videos like this creates a completely unnecessary delay to passengers at a cost to the taxpayer,' a spokesperson told the BBC. 'It adds to the high workload of our frontline teams, who work extremely hard to keep the railway running smoothly.'"
Following a 3.3 magnitude earthquake in Lancashire, a lifelike AI-generated image circulated showing the 179-year-old Carlisle Rail Bridge in partial collapse. Rail officials accepted the image as genuine, halted traffic and dispatched teams to inspect the structure, which in reality sustained no damage. The hoax led to 32 passenger and freight services being delayed or halted, affecting routes as far north as Scotland. Network Rail warned that such hoax images and videos cause unnecessary delays, taxpayer costs, and added workload for frontline teams. Similar AI-enabled misinformation has appeared across the British Isles, including deepfakes, racist content, and fabricated events.
Read at Futurism
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