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Business Bonus: Why did The "Willy Wonka Experience" Fool So Many People?

 This month really has been FebruAIry, hasn't it?

 ICYMI: The Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Experience, run by an "event" company, was an incredibly odd disappointment that happened in Glasgow, Scotland last week. The lush and wonderful treats promised were not in attendance, upsetting guests young and old.

So you must be asking, why is this here? On a tech portfolio? Because I'm here to ask; How did this fool so many people?

I don't blame the people who paid for this (Not totally):

  • Some are parents who needed a fun activity for their families.
  • Others just wanted to see a cool world and burn an hour or so.
  • It's making us laugh all over the world.

However, there were plenty of reasons to believe this wasn't up to snuff.

Because just look at this site for the Willy Wonka Experience Event;

You and I can immediately see this is AI generated:

 


There are also no pictures about this actual event - or any of their past events - on the website.

The copy is also clearly generated by AI: 

In the Imagination Lab, prepare to be captivated by a visual spectacle! Encounter mind-expanding projections, optical marvels, and exhibits that transport you into the realm of creativity. This space invites you on a surreal journey where the boundaries between reality and fantasy harmoniously merge, resulting in an enchanting and visually striking encounter. Brace yourself for an adventure that will leave you spellbound!

 It's flowery and repetitive.

And the home page of the company, House of Illuminati - what a name, my goodness - doesn't look much better;


 

An article about it on the site is simply written by 'admin' with a random string of text;


The text makes no sense or is illegible.

Enchring?

 There was a payment page - hence how people were able to pay 35 Pounds - 40$ USD - to visit with their children - but it has since been taken down.

This site fooled so many people because those people are probably not plugged into the general tech scene and the hottest tool of the times (AI and Image Generation).

The takeaway here is:

  • Look around a website before you toss them your credit card information.
  • For immersive experiences, look for pictures of their previous events.
  • If no one's identity is present anywhere on the site, don't give them your money or info.
  • AI is changing so quickly, but a few tell tale signs of an AI generated images that are free to the public are shiny, with creatures that don't look like creatures, and have a plastic like sheen.
  • AI generated copy is often insincere, doesn't fit what's happening, not too descriptive. If the copy you're reading sounds like a LinkedIn comment, it's probably AI generated.


 

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