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The magic of Christmas can be deceiving, especially when artificial intelligence gets involved. Dozens of tourists flocked to Buckingham Palace this week expecting a festive market, only to find empty gates. The holiday scene they’d seen online existed, but only in AI-generated images.
Social media posts showed twinkling lights, bustling stalls, and cheerful decorations, convincing visitors a market was set up outside the royal residence. In reality, no event was ever planned.
The incident shows the growing power, and pitfalls, of AI to create realistic but entirely fictional experiences. Visitors were left disappointed, and authorities had to manage the confusion, a reminder of how online illusions can sometimes spill into the real world.
VIDEO: Tourists flock to fake, AI-generated Buckingham Palace Christmas market
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 24, 2025
Dozens of tourists travelled to the royal residence after seeing online posts about a traditional Christmas market outside the gates, complete with stalls and twinkling lights. But the images were… pic.twitter.com/G6mpQIaW3n
*Source: AFP
