A Dinosaur for 700,000 Uzbek Soums: Fact or Fiction?
A video showing small dinosaurs running around a yard has gone viral on social media. In the video, a voiceover claims that the creatures were found through Instagram and purchased for 700,000 Uzbek soums each. The unusual footage has sparked curiosity among users, prompting some to wonder whether it is actually possible to buy living dinosaurs.
Verdict: FALSE
Factchecker.uz analyzed the video.
The footage shows small dinosaurs running around a yard and seemingly interacting with their surroundings. However, these scenes are not real-life recordings but were generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Today, AI tools can create highly realistic videos depicting creatures that do not exist in real life, unusual events, and various fictional situations. Because the images and movements appear convincing, distinguishing such videos from authentic footage is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, unusual videos circulating on social media should not be accepted as genuine without verification.
Do Living Dinosaurs Still Exist?
According to paleontological evidence, non-avian dinosaurs became extinct approximately 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Based on current scientific knowledge, there is no scientifically validated technology capable of bringing ancient dinosaurs back to life or making it possible to sell them as living animals.
At the same time, modern birds are considered living descendants of dinosaurs from an evolutionary perspective. However, this does not mean that ancient dinosaurs resembling those shown in the video still exist today.
Can You Buy a Dinosaur for 700,000 Uzbek Soums?
The statement in the video, "I bought each one for 700,000 soums," serves as a storytelling element intended to make the footage more engaging. However, there is no credible evidence confirming that these creatures were actually purchased.
AI-generated videos can portray fictional events as though they were happening in everyday life. Therefore, neither the voiceover nor the visuals themselves prove that the event actually occurred.
The claim circulating on social media that a living dinosaur was purchased for 700,000 Uzbek soums is false. The video was created using artificial intelligence, and the dinosaurs shown in it are not real.
