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$65 for a book written by ChatGPT? Man spots AI slip in yearbook, sparks online frenzy

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In the ever-blurring line between human and machine-generated content, one revelation has ignited a storm of reactions online, this time, over a $65 (₹5,500 approx) yearbook. A viral video circulating on Instagram, originally posted by the account Evolving AI, shows a man expressing disbelief upon discovering that parts of his pricey book appear to have been generated by ChatGPT.

“I paid $65 for this book, and they used ChatGPT in the book,” the man claims in the video, pointing to a paragraph that ends with the familiar AI-generated phrase, “Feel free to let me know if you need any adjustments or additional information!” The telltale sentence—used commonly by ChatGPT when closing responses—was all the evidence he needed to conclude that the content was machine-made.

The video credits the original post to TikTok user @raulito_tb and has since triggered a whirlwind of reactions from users, many of whom are both amused and alarmed by what this incident might signal for the future of publishing and education.

Internet Reacts: From Irony to Alarm Bells
The caption accompanying the viral clip summed up the collective sentiment: “Imagine paying $65 for a yearbook that ChatGPT made in seconds, and then the writer accidentally included ChatGPT’s ‘Feel free to let me know…’”


While some viewers were quick to poke fun, others raised serious concerns. One user joked, “I asked ChatGPT to write me a response to this post. Here it is: ‘If AI is taking over, maybe it’s time we rethink the tasks—not the tools.’” Another reflected more somberly, “Don’t wanna sound like an old man, but gets you thinking about future generations and its effects.”

Others criticized the lack of editorial oversight. “Not proofreading your generated stuff is next-level lazy tbh,” one comment read, highlighting a rising anxiety over the increasing normalization of unedited AI content.

Is This the New Normal?
The incident comes at a time when generative AI tools like ChatGPT are not just being used for brainstorming or content drafts but are increasingly creeping into formal, even sentimental, documents like yearbooks. For many, this raises questions about authenticity, creativity, and accountability in the age of automation.

While AI-generated content is nothing new, what sparked outrage in this case was the apparent carelessness—a simple proofreading error that left a digital fingerprint revealing the involvement of a machine where human effort was expected.

It’s a snapshot of a larger cultural moment: one in which society is still negotiating the boundaries of AI’s role in daily life. As some marvel at its efficiency, others fear a future where genuine human expression is replaced—or worse, overlooked in favor of convenience.

One commenter perhaps said it best: “We’ve reached the final evolution of ‘fake it till you make it.’”

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