‘We travelled 186 miles to see a beautiful hotspot - we could not believe what we saw'

A Malaysian couple were reportedly fooled by an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video in an incident that left them speechless. The couple saw a video on Facebook featuring an impressive cable car in Perak, just four hours from where they lived.

Without thinking twice, they got in the car and travelled over 186 miles to the destination, only to discover that they had just fallen for a hoax. On June 30, a hotel employee in Perak state of Malaysia shared on social media that an elderly couple had checked in and inquired about a scenic cable car reportedly operating in the area. Posting under the username @dyaaaaaaa._, the staff member admitted she initially thought the couple were joking.

She informed them that such an attraction didn’t exist, and remarked that there wasn’t much to see in the quiet town.

The couple apparently remained unconvinced and claimed they had seen a video online featuring a television host experiencing the scenic ride firsthand, even interviewing passengers about their journeys. But to their shock, the staff member explained that the video was AI-generated.

The clip - now reportedly removed due to controversy and user complaints - depicted a glamorous presenter from a channel called "TV Rakyat" showcasing the Kuak Skyride, a tram ride said to be located in Kuak Hulu, Perak.

In the footage, the host is shown enjoying the picturesque journey through forests and mountains.

In the video, the presenter chats with various groups of tourists, all smiles as they share their thrilling experiences on camera. Later, she dines on an elegant meal at a restaurant boasting sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

When the couple realised the site didn’t exist, the woman wanted "to report the journalist who appears in the video."

Eventually, they understood that nothing they had seen was real, not even the journalist, and they left the area feeling embarrassed.

The woman then says: "Why did they do this to people?"