Alright, let me walk you through the wildest (and possibly the weirdest) thing the internet threw at us this week: A video of a lion skydiving with a man.
Yes, an actual lion, soaring through the skies like it just ditched the jungle life for a GoPro and adrenaline rush.
No, this isn’t the plot of a new DreamWorks movie.
The video, originally posted by @travelling.shillong on Instagram, shows what appears to be a lion mid-air, free-falling in tandem with a human skydiver. It quickly racked up more than 35 million views, along with a chaotic mix of reactions, and 2,997,071 likes till now.
While some viewers laughed their way through it, others were left squinting at their screens, unsure whether to be impressed or deeply concerned.
Let’s start with the obvious: Lions don’t skydive. They rule the jungle, not the clouds.
Yet, in this video, the lion is chilling mid-fall with a completely calm expression, not a hair (literally) out of place. No lips flapping in the wind, no eye-squinting from air pressure, just a majestic beast floating like a zen master on vacation.
Naturally, people started asking the million-dollar question: Is it real, or is it AI?
Spoiler alert: It’s AI.
Multiple viewers pointed out the telltale signs. Static hair, stiff posture, and a general lack of wind reaction that would make even the most chill yoga-practicing lion go berserk. Plus, the same Instagram account has a history of posting similar animal-skydiving content. Tigers, cats, and now lions. It’s basically the Avengers of improbable wildlife adventures.
Still, this hasn’t stopped the internet from going full circus.
One user joked, “It’s real, not AI. I was the lion.”
Another added, “Bro, try elephant once.”
Someone else wrote, “We got a skydiving lion before GTA 6,” summing up just how bizarre and broken the internet timeline is these days.
But it wasn’t all jokes.
Many animal lovers weren’t amused, calling the clip disturbing.
“Ridiculous things humans do to satisfy their souls! NOT COOL and unfair to the poor animal,” one commenter vented.
A few others expressed concern about people’s inability to distinguish between AI and reality, which is, quite honestly, a little terrifying.
One user said, “The number of people who can’t identify this as AI-generated is concerning.”
So what the heck is going on here?
Here’s the thing. We’re now living in a time where AI can whip up videos that look more convincing than reality. Deepfakes, CGI, and generative tools are evolving faster than most people can keep up. From presidential deepfakes to lions living their best influencer lives, the lines between real and fake are blurring dangerously fast.
Now, from the content creator’s side, it’s all fun, virality, and engagement. But from a viewer’s lens? This kind of hyperreal content messes with our understanding of what’s possible. For someone just casually scrolling Instagram, a skydiving lion might actually pass as real. That’s the spooky part.
What does this look like from both sides?
Creators are pushing the envelope, showing off what AI can do, maybe even educating or entertaining people in the process, but many viewers feel tricked, worried, or angry. Those with a love for animals feel it’s exploitative, even if it’s digital.
To the average human watching all this unfold? It’s absurd. Entertaining, sure. But also a reminder that we need some basic digital literacy fast.
So, how do we fix this?
Label AI content clearly, encourage skepticism, and teach people how to spot fakes. Maybe throw in some media literacy classes in schools and online platforms, too. Seriously, stop making wild animals do things they never signed up for, even digitally.
Well, I write daily (mostly the weird stuff I find interesting). If you like this whole no-nonsense approach, feel free to bookmark and come back tomorrow, or continue reading other stories to make up your mind.
See ya, internet friend.
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