M’sian elderly couple duped by AI video, travelled 4.5hrs from KL to Perak for fake cable car ride
An elderly couple from Kuala Lumpur travelled over four hours to Perak after believing an AI-generated video featuring a “Kuak Skyride” cable car. The attraction, complete with scenes of long queues and tourist interviews, turned out to be entirely fictional—raising concerns over the vulnerability of senior citizens to deepfakes.
A viral incident involving an elderly Malaysian couple misled by an AI-generated video has sparked widespread concern over the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in online content.
The couple, who travelled from Kuala Lumpur to the town of Kuak Hulu in Perak, were seeking a scenic cable car ride that does not exist.
Long journey for a non-existent ride
According to a Threads user known as Dya on 30 June, the couple checked into the hotel where she works, asking about the much-talked-about "Kuak Hulu Cable Car".
Dya initially thought they were joking, but was stunned to learn they had travelled more than 4 hours based on a Facebook video promoting a non-existent tourist attraction.
Google Maps indicates that the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Pengkalan Hulu typically takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Belief in viral video despite doubts
The couple insisted the video was real, especially as it featured a seemingly credible news report by a channel called “TV Rakyat”.
The now-deleted video, which continues to circulate on social media, presented a news segment introducing the "Kuak Skyride".
It showed fabricated scenes of long queues, tourist interviews, a visit to a museum, a luxurious meal with panoramic views, and a cable car ride ending at a deer petting zone.
However, the entire video, including the reporter, tourists, and scenery, was generated using AI.
A rude awakening and growing distrust
Dya recounted how she had to break the news gently, explaining the video was completely fabricated.
“When I asked if they had checked with their children before travelling, they said they were too embarrassed to ask,” she wrote.
The wife even expressed a desire to sue the reporter in the video, not realising the individual did not exist.
Dya told them, “If there were cable cars here, the town would be lively.”
She added a heartfelt message at the end of her post urging children to stay in touch with elderly parents, especially those who enjoy travel.
Wider concerns from the online community
Other users on Threads echoed similar worries, with some revealing that their parents had also fallen for AI-generated videos.
One cited an incident involving a supposed "Jurassic Park" attraction in Pengkalan Hulu that never existed.
Another user shared that her mother had watched several videos allegedly featuring singer Siti Nurhaliza promoting products.
"She bought the items thinking it was really endorsed by Siti. These older folks can’t tell the difference between real and AI-generated content," the user wrote.
Many comments urged Malaysians to approach online content with scepticism and to educate their family members, especially the elderly, about the potential dangers of manipulated media.
A Threads user noted, “Sometimes the content is completely illogical, but they still believe it’s true. My parents believe everything they see—cats in runway shows, or even humans being cursed into stingrays.”
