A Willy Wonka-themed event in Scotland was meant to let guests “live out their chocolate fantasies,” but it turned out to be a sparsely decorated warehouse filled with nightmarish copycat characters and… There were limited supplies on display, not even chocolate. Part of this disappointment is due to his AI-generated images used in the event's marketing materials.
While many visitors were fooled by the colorfully manipulated images, experts shared what people should be aware of when it comes to future AI-powered events.
What was the Willy's Chocolate Experience like for visitors?
Guests who paid up to £35 (about $44) for tickets to the immersive attraction in Glasgow told various media outlets that it was “poorly done” and “horrifying”. Some parents were so angry that they called the police. SocialHis media posts about Willy's Chocolate Experience millions of views Over the past week.
Police dispatched to 'immersive' Willy Wonka experience after family shows up in 'empty warehouse'
The event reportedly charged a $40 admission fee, was promoted with AI art, and said it would be “a journey filled with amazing creations and mesmerizing surprises at every turn.” pic.twitter.com/udz8KeWVxQ
— Culture Crave🍿 (@CultureCrave) February 27, 2024
Actor Paul Connell, who was cast to play Willy Wonka, was given a script containing 15 pages of “AI-generated gibberish” and asked to “improvise” when props were not available. he told The Independent. Kirsty Patterson, who played the Oompa Loompa, told Vulture that the children in attendance were “quite shaken up” but she tried to make the best of the situation.
The viral video shows a character known as “The Unknown,” who does not appear in Wonka movies or Roald Dahl's books, hiding behind a mirror wearing all black and a chrome mask. It was reflected. When they appeared, the children backed away in fear.
The House of Illuminati is responsible for Wonka events and other experiences that appear to be promoted with AI-generated art. An investigation by Rolling Stone found that director Billy Cole has published more than 15 books containing AI-generated text. Mr Cole appeared on STV News and said he regretted that “his own vision of an artistic representation of the famous book was not realized”.
According to the New York Times, the company posted a statement on its Facebook page saying, “We are deeply sorry that this happened and will issue a full refund to everyone who purchased tickets.” This page has since been deleted.
A knock-off of the Wonkaland experience, the Oompa Loompas appear to be literally running a meth lab and are seriously questioning their previous life choices.If you wrote this into a script, I'd say it's too outlandish. pic.twitter.com/WwkGO8Hjck
— Disapprehensive Optimist (@disappoptimism) February 27, 2024
How to avoid falling for AI marketing scams
The Willie's Chocolate Experience ended on February 25, but as the aftermath of the event continues, experts say consumers should be skeptical of the ads they see online. Karim Adib, a British digital marketing expert, told Yahoo News that after looking at recent events, Fyre Festival, a music event held in the Bahamas in 2017 that was advertised as a luxury haven but ended in disaster. He said he remembered it.
“[Fyre Festival images] Although it was not generated by AI, the misinformation still fooled many consumers,” he explained. “Before paying your entry fee, look for reviews, independent social media posts from those other than the event organizer, and coverage from reliable sources.”
Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, head of AI and machine learning at Berlin-based deepfake detection company Sumsub, offers advice on how to identify AI-generated images like those used on the Willy's Chocolate Experience website Did.
“Look for things like mismatched facial features, blurred or distorted backgrounds and objects, and misdirected lighting or shadows,” he said. “You can also check the image's metadata to see if it has been manipulated or modified by software.”
“When it comes to fake images, the devil is in the details,” he added.
