AI-generated POV videos are taking over TikTok, but as Gen-Z fail to buy into their intended purpose, the question is whether AI is helping or harming our understanding of the past
If you’ve scrolled through your TikTok feed in the past few days, you’ve undoubtedly come across a few AI-generated point-of-view (POV) videos.
These clips, which often transport viewers to historical moments or bizarre futuristic scenarios, have gone viral, but not necessarily for the reasons their creators intended. Instead of sparking serious engagement, many Gen-Z users are finding them unintentionally hilarious.
The trend, which has taken over the social media platform, includes videos with titles like “POV: You Wake Up in 1351 During the Black Plague” or “POV: You’re a Teen in 1990s America.” They use AI-generated imagery to create immersive scenes, often accompanied by melancholic music or dramatic voiceovers to enhance the storytelling.
But despite their attempt to be serious or even educational, these videos have become a ‘meme’ in themselves, primarily because of how oddly inaccurate, over-the-top, or just outright bizarre they appear.
One of the biggest reasons why these videos aren’t being taken seriously is the eerie, sometimes absurd, nature of AI-generated visuals. While AI tools have advanced significantly, they still struggle with the finer details and often end up generating people with too many fingers, warped facial expressions, or historically inaccurate clothing.
These odd glitches make it hard for viewers to fully immerse themselves in the content as intended. So, instead of a realistic time-travel experience, it feels more like a surreal fever dream that you didn’t really want to experience.
Take, for example, the now-viral TikTok video “POV: You Wake Up in 1351 During the Black Plague,” which has amassed over 52 million views, 3.6 million likes, and almost 19,000 comments. The video attempts to depict a harrowing moment in history but is instead filled with rather humorous distorted AI faces, glowing eyes, and an inexplicably aesthetic filter that makes medieval Europe look suspiciously romantic.
Many viewers have immediately taken to the comment section on these videos to poke fun, with one user joking, “I’ve died in Pompeii, survived the Titanic, went to Hogwarts, and now I’m in Chernobyl. Help.”
This reaction reflects a much broader TikTok trend: Gen Z’s ability to turn serious topics into meme-worthy content. AI videos, with their attempts at dramatic storytelling, are ripe for this treatment, especially when they contain historical inaccuracies or unintentionally comedic elements.
The popularity of AI POV videos doesn’t necessarily mean TikTok users are uninterested in history – it’s just that they prefer their content with a dose of humour and irony. Unlike other generations, who may approach AI-generated storytelling with curiosity or caution, Gen Z engages with it through a lens of satire. This generation grew up on surreal internet humour, absurdist memes, and the chaotic nature of social media. They’re comfortable with AI but also quick to call out and mock its flaws.
These inaccuracies have sparked conversations about whether AI-generated historical content is helping or harming our understanding of the past. While some users argue that even flawed AI depictions can pique curiosity about history, others worry that they spread misinformation in an aesthetically pleasing but misleading package.
As with any viral trend, Gen-Z hasn’t just watched these videos; they’ve now made their own, and in true TikTok fashion, they’ve taken a more ironic approach.
Some of the most popular parodies include exaggerated versions of AI POVs, with users mimicking the robotic narration with a more relatable and depressing montage. TikToker Elle Gibson ( @ ellegibsonn ) went viral 3 days ago with over seven million views when she posted a video mocking the AI POV, which was captioned “POV: you wake up as a girl on day 1 of her period (2025)”, showing her lying in bed with medicine and a cup of tea.
Another user who goes by @plantbasedprach posted a comedic AI POV captioned, “POV: you’re a 28-year-old woman in 2025 trying to wake up for your corporate job”, which included footage of her trying to get out of bed.
Whether you love them or laugh at them, AI POV videos are undeniably shaping TikTok’s current content landscape. So, if you wake up one day and find yourself in a dramatic, AI-generated version of the 1920s, just know you’re not alone; millions of other users are right there with you, roasting it in the comments.
