Local AI expert warns against artificially generated videos of U.S.-Iran war

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - As the U.S.-Iran war rages into a third week, experts are warning against AI videos and photos circulated online.

"Some of it is political or ideological propaganda that is being used by all sides. That's just the state of play that we're in, but most of it are just people who are bored online. It's straight up rage farming, and it's less to inform and more to provoke," Sat Singh, founder of AI Coachella Valley said.

Singh says senior citizens online can be especially vulnerable to artificially-generated videos pushing false narratives, with the population making up 20% of the Coachella Valley.

Now, Singh says users need to have more conversations around AI, especially as state and federal regulation lack.

It's not just social media content, large language models like ChatGPT can also confirm biases.

A 2025 University of Michigan study found 55% of adults aged 50 or older use AI on a daily basis.

So, how can users spot the real from the fake?

"Things like weird lip sync or strange facial lines, odd lighting, look for shadows and certain things, weird hands. All of that stuff was around 2 or 3 years ago, but now the AI tools now have gotten so much better and they're only going to get better ... The most important thing that you as a human have when it comes to resisting the algorithms, is the ability to just to slow down and pause," Singh said.

News Channel 3 checked in with local seniors at the Cathedral City Senior Center, who agreed the technology is moving faster than one can keep up with.

"It keeps progressing more and more and pretty soon you can't believe what you hear or see," Cindy Proulx said.

For more information on Singh's work and to sign an AI Ethics Pledge, visit AI Coachella Valley.