Imagine stepping into a moment in history—perhaps you’re a soldier in the trenches of World War I or a resident of Pompeii, hours before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
For many TikTok users, this is not just a fantasy; it’s the experience they get from accounts that create immersive AI-generated historical videos.
Two of the most popular accounts, Time Traveller Pov and POV Lab, have amassed nearly a million followers combined.
They’ve become viral sensations, posting dozens of videos designed to immerse viewers in key historical events.
However, this popularity comes with a downside, as historians warn that these videos often distort history in ways that could mislead their audience.
Misleading History: A Growing Concern
One viral video from Time Traveller Pov takes viewers inside a World War I trench in 1917, where soldiers are shown in an “observation post,” reading “letters from my wife.”
While the video captures the feeling of the time, military historian Robin Schaefer points out that the uniforms and depiction of trench life are far from accurate, calling them “absurd.”
Similarly, another video, which shows life in Pompeii on the day of its destruction in 79 AD, has raised eyebrows.
Dr. Hannah Platts, a historian and archaeologist, notes several errors, from the type of bread to the wine glasses depicted, not to mention the inaccurate portrayal of the eruption itself.
She emphasized the importance of getting history right, stating, “Just because history is in the past, doesn’t mean we can ride roughshod over it.”
Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse, known online as the Fake History Hunter, echoed this sentiment, criticizing the quality of these videos, calling them “nonsense” and “rubbish.”
Behind the Scenes: Who’s Behind These AI Accounts?
Time Traveller Pov is run by Daniel, a 26-year-old Brit who aims to create “cinematic and immersive” experiences, not documentaries.
He explains that his videos are designed to spark curiosity about history, even if they aren’t perfectly accurate.
He adds, “All of my content is labeled as ‘AI generated’ so people know that it isn’t real.”
His lighthearted approach includes videos like “POV: You wake up as a Chernobyl worker in 1986,” where the catastrophic nuclear disaster is shown with minimal concern for accuracy.
However, scholars like Barbara Keys, a professor of US history, criticize this casual approach to historical events.
She points out that even the visual portrayal of Chernobyl in these videos is flawed, noting, “If you Google images of Chernobyl, it doesn’t look like what is in the video.”
She also stresses that when presenting history, it’s important to clarify the sources, something AI videos fail to do.
Distorted Depictions of Major Historical Events
The issue of inaccuracy isn’t limited to just one or two historical events.
Another video shows a portrayal of the Black Death, where a well-groomed woman in a spotless dress appears to seek help in a muddy medieval street—an unrealistic depiction of a horrific time.
Professor Keys criticizes this as more of a “Disney movie rendition” than an accurate representation of history.
The Time Traveller Pov channel also has a clip showing the moment the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
The video starts with a first-person view from someone’s bed, offering a surreal and somewhat insensitive depiction of the bombing’s aftermath.
Schaefer dismisses the video’s portrayal of World War I trenches as a “terrible representation” due to its lack of historical grounding and the chaotic mix of “video game aesthetics” and “distorted visuals.”
The Pompeii Video: A Modern-Day Fiction
Another viral video, set in Pompeii, begins with a peaceful morning as Mount Vesuvius looms in the distance, later shifting to a market scene with bread and wine.
While the video aims to show the day of the eruption, historians point out several issues.
Dr. Platts emphasizes that the portrayal of the eruption is inaccurate, citing geological research and eyewitness accounts that contradict the depiction.
She also criticizes the all-male dining scene, explaining that Roman elite dining (convivium) included women and was done while reclining on couches, not sitting at a table.
The video’s bread loaf is another sore point, as the real carbonized loaves found at Pompeii do not match what’s shown in the video.
Dr. Platts laments, “It’s not like this information isn’t available; it’s just not being used properly.”
The Risk of Historical Revisionism
With the rise of AI-generated history, there’s a growing concern about the future of historical accuracy.
These videos, though entertaining, risk rewriting history based on inaccurate or incomplete information.
Dr. Platts warns that if people begin to accept these videos as factual, there’s a real danger of “writing history to suit what they want,” without proper research or attention to detail.
Other videos from the POV Lab account, such as “POV: You’re a child in the Stone Age” or “POV: You’re in Ancient Egypt,” offer similarly inaccurate depictions of past societies.
A video about the 1969 moon landing, for example, shows astronauts driving a lunar rover, which didn’t exist at the time (the rover was introduced during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971).
Conclusion: The Fine Line Between Fun and Fact
While AI-generated historical videos can be fun and engaging, they need to be consumed with caution.
It’s essential to remember that history is complex and nuanced, and these videos, though entertaining, often sacrifice accuracy for the sake of cinematic immersion.
Historians stress the importance of respecting the facts of the past and using AI responsibly to ensure that future generations have a clear and truthful understanding of history.
As AI continues to evolve, it’s up to creators and consumers alike to ensure that history isn’t distorted in the process.