Beaver, Utah — AI definitely influences our social media feeds in 2026.
For example, more businesses have begun using AI to promote products on social media. This is partially due to the ease of use compared to using Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva. It’s personally not my cup of tea, but I get why people use it. Unfortunately, we’re also seeing AI used in contexts where it’s not in the public interest, such as during disasters.
Over the past few weeks, the Cottonwood Fire caused damage throughout Central Utah, including at Eagle Point Resort. The Utah ski resort has been transparent about the extent of the damage sustained, including to the buildings and terrain. However, they had to come out this week to say that an AI-generated image was circulating and inaccurately depicted damage to the ski resort.
The post they were referencing likely came from this Facebook account. The account, which usually shares content about wildfires, posted an inaccurate image showing the entire landscape view from the Skyline chairlift as charred. There are other giveaways, like the typical AI font and the logo that looks nothing like Eagle Point’s. The individual shut off comments so nobody could call him out. So I hit him with a community note.
The situation shows that people should be cautious when sharing content on social media. If you don’t know anything about the account you’re sharing it from, it’s best to leave it be.
Image Credits: Eagle Point Resort, Our AI Overlords
