Sometimes a holiday photo can make us smile, even when something about it feels a little “off.” That happened this Thanksgiving, as the internet filled with cheerful family scenes that looked warm and real—until people realized they were created entirely by AI.
What began as a lighthearted online joke quickly turned into a full trend. AI Thanksgiving portraits popped up everywhere, placing celebrities, tech leaders, and influencers around cozy dinner tables. Some pictures looked so natural that viewers had to stare twice before spotting anything unusual.
The turning point came when a few images went especially viral. One showed Sydney Sweeney sharing a holiday meal with Alex Jones. Another placed Jackie Chan at a turkey carving with a crypto influencer. Tech CEOs were pictured together as if they were spending Thanksgiving in an ordinary living room.
Much of this sudden realism came from a new AI model released just days earlier. Google’s upgraded tool produced images with sharper detail, smoother lighting, and lifelike skin tones. The timing meant holiday posts were filled with AI creations that looked more convincing than ever before.
So many people asked about who was sitting at the other side of the table. So we took another pic. 🦃
— Daniel Newman (@danielnewmanUV) November 27, 2025
I really should have dressed up and took my hat off.
Seriously…AI is too much. 🙃😆🤣 https://t.co/69SpMgsb6M pic.twitter.com/PODdhMMTmv
As the photos spread, people joked that spotting AI fakes might become a new Thanksgiving tradition. Experts warn that the usual clues—odd shadows, uneven fingers, or strange textures—are fading fast. The latest models can blend faces, settings, and emotions with surprising accuracy.
This year’s wave of AI portraits may be a sign of what’s ahead. And as these digital memories grow more lifelike, many are left wondering how we’ll tell the real moments from the ones invented by a machine.
