Social media has seen a surge in AI-generated content following major events, particularly natural disasters such as the Nepal floods and conflicts including the war in Iran. As public interest in these events grows, so does the spread of convincing AI-generated footage. Videos falsely claiming to show flooding in Nepal or an American warship on fire have racked up millions of views, with many users believing they are real. So how can you tell what’s genuine? The Independent takes you through the key steps we use to verify viral videos — from checking the original source to identifying telltale signs of AI generation.