Name: Buckingham Palace Christmas Market.

Year: Debuting this year.

Exterior: Absolutely charming.

Really? A Christmas market at Buckingham Palace? Indeed! Picture a spacious avenue adorned with wooden stalls, creating a “stunning winter wonderland” filled with twinkling lights and festive trees, right at the palace’s forecourt.

Sounds almost too good to be real. Is that true? Just take a look at the images!

I. Where are those lights suspended from? They seem to float magically. That’s part of the allure.

And there’s snow on the ground. When was this picture taken? Don’t worry. You can check it out for yourself. There are many trains heading to London, and they are all free.

Wait – is this a prank? Yes, it has some elements typical of a hoax.

Like? AI-generated fake photos of the Buckingham Palace Christmas market are circulating on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

What’s the purpose? That remains unclear. Numerous accounts have shared various AI fabrications without any obvious intent.

Besides disappointing royalist Christmas enthusiasts? It certainly seems that way. Many visitors have reported encountering only locked gates, safety barriers, and remnants of water puddles.

So, is there any truth to this? Just around the corner from the palace gates, the Royal Mews gift shop is offering a festive pop-up, featuring royal-themed Christmas gifts and a single kiosk serving hot drinks at the back.

It’s not quite the same. The Royal Collection Trust feels the need to clarify: “There will be no Christmas market at Buckingham Palace,” it states.

Are these types of AI hoaxes becoming more frequent? It’s unfortunate. In July, it was reported that an elderly couple was misled to the Malaysian state of Perak by a video showcasing a non-existent cable car.

That’s hard to believe. Additionally, travel agency Amsterdam Experience is noting a rise in inquiries for trips to Amsterdam to see imaginary places in the Netherlands.

What about their iconic windmills? Windmills beside picturesque canals and tulip fields exist only in AI-generated visuals.

When will people learn? It appears not anytime soon. Tourists who rely on AI for travel planning could find themselves stranded on a secluded mountaintop in Japan or searching for an Eiffel Tower in Beijing.

I’m not usually one for quick judgments.Using AI for travel planning is quite misguided. Perhaps, yet currently, around 30% of international travelers are doing just that.

Remember to say: “Never travel without ensuring that the destination actually exists.”

And please don’t say things like: “I’m looking for the main entrance to Jurassic Park. Is it located behind the carpet warehouse?”