A viral image showcasing vibrant purple apples has created quite a stir on social media, leading some individuals to believe in their existence and seek out these elusive fruits. The occurrence prompted responses from horticulturists in Saskatchewan, who clarified that such apples do not exist. “We’ve had lots of apples developed in Saskatchewan, but none of them are purple.
They all have white flesh and red skin,” stated Rachelle Hofmeister, a horticulturist at Dutch Growers in Regina. The confusion arose after an image posted earlier this month depicted purple apples with violet flesh, accompanied by claims that these fruits originated from Saskatchewan and were prized for making purple applesauce, a supposed cultural delicacy. The account, Unnaturalist AI, followed up with additional AI-generated images of purple apple sauce and a purple apple tree.
However, these enticing images are entirely artificial. “It looks amazing. It would be so fun.
But, unfortunately, it is not real,” Hofmeister confirmed.
Digital age misinformation alert
Many social media users were quick to debunk the myth in the comments, acknowledging the nonexistent nature of the fruits.
Despite this, some individuals were initially convinced. “Mmmm, looks good!” commented one user, while another wrote, “I want to try one.”
The incident highlights a broader issue in the digital age: the rapid spread of misinformation through AI-generated content. Alec Couros, an educational technology and media professor at the University of Regina, emphasized the need for skepticism and vigilance.
“The idea that seeing is believing is just something that we have to throw away. At this point, it’s no longer good enough to verify evidence,” he noted. Couros pointed out that while fake images like these purple apples might seem harmless, the implications of AI-generated misinformation can be significant, especially in politically sensitive contexts such as elections.
“It skews the voting intentions for individuals who may be holding up mistruths,” he cautioned. To avoid being misled, Couros recommended that people carefully scrutinize the content they encounter on social media. In the case of the purple apples, indicators such as the hashtags “Unnaturalist AI” and “Plantasy” hinted at the artificial nature of the images.
This incident serves as a reminder of the need for discernment online, revealing how easily digital fabrications can capture public attention and spread false narratives.
