Imagine waking up in ancient Rome, walking along the Nile in Egypt, or witnessing the chaos of the Black Death in medieval London. AI-generated videos are bringing these experiences to life, offering a first-person perspective on history, and they’re going viral on TikTok.
Creators like Dan (POV Lab) from the UK and Hogne (Time Traveller POV) from Norway have been leading the trend, crafting visually stunning AI videos that depict historical moments. Their goal? To make history more engaging and accessible to a wider audience.
“Ideas of seeing the past through a first-person perspective felt like a unique way to bring history to life,” Dan tells the BBC. Meanwhile, Hogne adds that his videos are helping people “learn something new about cool parts of history.”
But while these AI-generated glimpses into the past are captivating millions, historians are raising concerns about their accuracy.
The Debate: Engaging or Inaccurate?
Some of the most popular AI-generated history videos have been met with skepticism from experts. Take, for example, a viral TikTok portraying a day in the life during the Black Death, which has amassed over 53 million views.
Dr. Amy Boyington, a medieval history expert, calls the video “evocative and sensational” but ultimately inaccurate. She notes anachronisms like large glass windows and even a train track, things that simply didn’t exist in the 1300s.
Similarly, Dr. Hannah Platts, a historian and archaeologist, critiques a video depicting the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. According to Platts, the animation ignores Pliny the Younger’s eyewitness account, which describes the eruption as a slow, suffocating ashfall rather than an explosive lava-spewing event.
The Problem of Historical Misinformation
While AI can generate stunning visuals, it often gets the details wrong. A video showing life in Pompeii before the eruption, for instance, includes modern bread rolls, wine glasses, and pepper mills—none of which existed at the time.
“There are actually carbonized loaves from Pompeii that we could reference,” Dr. Platts points out. “It’s a shame the creators didn’t research that.”
Even small errors can mislead audiences, particularly younger viewers who may assume these videos are historically accurate.
AI’s Role in Shaping Perceptions of History
Historians worry that these AI-generated depictions could manipulate history, even unintentionally. Dr. Boyington warns that misleading reconstructions might distort public understanding, especially if AI-generated videos were used to support false historical narratives.
Dan, one of the content creators, acknowledges that his videos are not documentaries. “These are more about evoking a feeling of a time period rather than being a 100% factual recreation,” he explains.
However, others, like Professor Elizabeth Frood, argue that AI-generated historical content could be an incredible educational tool—if done correctly. “If creators prioritize accuracy and provide sources, these videos could have immense educational benefits,” she says.
The Future of AI in History Education
Both Dan and Hogne admit that AI is far from perfect. AI often generates errors that require careful oversight. Hogne relies on ChatGPT to research time periods but admits, “I’m not a history expert, so I don’t always catch small mistakes.”
The lack of transparency in how AI videos are created is another concern. “There’s no source information,” says Professor Barbara Keys, who analyzed an AI-generated video of Chornobyl. “This makes people think Soviet technology was much worse than it actually was.”
To address these concerns, Hogne is considering adding citations for his research. “It would be great to make these totally accurate using reliable sources,” he says. “But right now, it’s just me making these videos, and each one takes around eight hours.”
Should AI-Generated History Videos Be Trusted?
While AI history videos are engaging and thought-provoking, experts urge viewers to approach them with a critical eye. AI is a powerful tool, but without rigorous historical research, it can distort rather than illuminate the past.
For those interested in learning more about the historical events portrayed in these videos, experts recommend checking out well-researched sources such as:
- The British Museum’s Online Collection of historical artifacts
- National Geographic History for in-depth articles
- Smithsonian History for expert perspectives on the past
Ultimately, AI-generated history videos can be a great gateway to curiosity, but they should complement, not replace real historical education. As Professor Frood sums up: “AI’s role in history isn’t about replacing textbooks, it’s about sparking curiosity and making the past come alive.”
