Limerick council faces backlash over AI generated Christmas promotional video

Limerick City and County Council has faced criticism from elected officials and members of the public after using an artificial intelligence generated video to promote Christmas events in the city, the Irish Examiner reported. The Limerick Festivals and Events team published the video on social media to show what the city could look like during the festive period. [1]

The local council disabled the comments section on the social media post after receiving a negative public reaction, according to the Irish Examiner. Social Democrats councillor Elisa O'Donovan was among those who criticised the use of the computer-generated footage, which critics likened to the children's book The Polar Express. [1][2]

The Polar Express is a landmark 1985 Christmas picture book written and illustrated by American author Chris Van Allsburg, who won the Caldecott Medal for its work in 1986. [2]