Water Park Visitors Buy Ride Photos—Not Prepared for What They Get

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A video about a water park visit in Spain took an unexpectedly hilarious turn for some visitors, whose souvenir photos were altered in bizarre ways, has gone viral on TikTok.
The short clip, posted by @danielleseagrave, captures the aftermath of purchasing around $40 worth of ride photos at Aqualand Maspalomas, an amusement park in Maspalomas on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. The clip has been viewed 1.6 million times since it was shared on June 1.
"Paid €35 [around $40] for pictures at the water park only to zoom in an hour later and notice the facial recognition has screwed us over..." text overlaid on the video reads.
The video later shows close-up shots of the riders' faces, which are distorted and altered, with some eyes appearing unnaturally large or misaligned, seemingly altered by artificial intelligence.
Despite the flawed visuals, the TikToker stood by the purchase. "The best €35 spent in my opinion," reads a caption on the video.
While the viral video was shared in good humor, it also underscores growing public concern around the role of AI in photography. A June 2024 paper in the International Journal of Modern Engineering & Management Research highlights how AI is reshaping image processing across industries, but not without controversy.
"Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed various industries, with photography being one of the most profoundly affected," the paper notes. However, it also warns that "AI's ability to manipulate images, particularly through advanced tools like deepfakes and neural filters, raised concerns among both professionals and the general public."
The study found that 42 percent of respondents were concerned that AI-generated manipulations could compromise the authenticity of images. Meanwhile, 30 percent of professionals cited fears that AI tools might be misused for deception or distortion.
'Crying'
While AI is increasingly being used to enhance digital photography, the instance in the viral video appears to show how algorithms can also produce unintended and humorous effects. Viewers on TikTok were amused by the photos shown in the viral video and flooded the comments section with their reactions.
"Sorry but this has made me laugh so much," wrote user lozmach, while deeljones simply commented, "Crying." The original poster replied: "Couldn't stop laughing."
One user, Jennisykes, who had visited the park a day earlier, commented: "We went yesterday charged us 40. Pics are hilarious. Legs are killing us all today." Asked whether their own pictures were similarly glitched, Jennisykes responded: "No. our eyes are ok. don't know what's happened to yours lol xxxxxx."
Another viewer, Paul Jacobs, speculated that AI might be to blame, saying: "I'm guessing it's low resolution cameras using AI to increase the image sizes with some wonky results." The original poster responded with tongue-in-cheek enthusiasm: "Great results."
User @k_dolly_cat commented: "I'd ask for a refund what in the ai...." The original poster replied: "I honestly feel like the money was worth it for the amount of times I've laughed."
Newsweek reached out to the original poster via TikTok and the park via its website contact form for comment. This video has not been independently verified.
Stock image: A couple going down a slide at a water park.
Stock image: A couple going down a slide at a water park.
Getty
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