Immersive, AI-generated videos that transport viewers directly into the past have recently gone viral on TikTok.

The creators behind two popular accounts—POV Lab and Time Traveller POV—are offering a fresh spin on historical storytelling by imagining first-person experiences in eras such as ancient Rome, medieval London, and ancient Egypt.

Dan, the UK-based mind behind POV Lab, explains that his goal is to ignite curiosity by giving audiences a taste of history from a personal perspective.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Norwegian creator Hogne of Time Traveller POV believes his work not only entertains but also teaches viewers about intriguing historical periods.

However, the viral success of these videos has drawn criticism from several historians who question their factual accuracy.

Dr. Amy Boyington, speaking to the BBC, has described one medieval-themed video as “amateurish” and overly sensational, noting the presence of anachronistic elements like modern-style houses and inexplicable train tracks—details that simply wouldn’t have existed in the 1300s.

Similarly, archaeologist Dr. Hannah Platts highlighted errors in a video depicting the eruption of Mount Vesuvius at Pompeii, pointing out inaccuracies in everything from dining customs to the portrayal of everyday objects, such as modern bread rolls replacing historically documented loaves.

Beyond individual errors, experts worry that these artistic interpretations may inadvertently mislead viewers—especially younger audiences who might take them as accurate historical records.

“There’s a danger that, without proper context, these videos could be exploited to rewrite or manipulate history,” Dr. Boyington told the BBC. In one case, a video about the Chernobyl disaster was criticized for its lack of transparency regarding source material, potentially skewing public perception of Soviet technology.

In response to such concerns, Dan stresses that his videos are clearly labeled as AI-generated and are meant to serve as creative prompts rather than definitive historical accounts.

“I encourage viewers to explore and research on their own,” he said, emphasizing that his work is more about evoking the spirit of a time period than delivering a textbook recreation.

Hogne, who acknowledges the imperfections inherent in current AI tools, expressed his commitment to improving accuracy—even though his independent efforts mean each video can take up to eight hours to produce.

Despite the ongoing debate over historical precision, many experts agree that these videos can spark a genuine interest in the past.

Scholars such as Professor Elizabeth Frood note that when rooted in solid research, such reconstructions have immense educational potential. Yet, they also caution that as these AI tools become more sophisticated, both creators and viewers must remain vigilant against the risk of spreading misinformation.

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