Punch the monkey AI viral videos: How to spot them

Punch, a baby macaque abandoned by his mother, is the rising star of 2026. The internet has come together to cry and cry over videos of Punch clinging to his Ikea orangutan plushie, a proxy for his absent mother.

As Punch’s beloved Ikea plushie became his emotional support animal, he became the world’s emotional support animal. And, for now, this story seems to have a happy ending. As Punch grew up, the macaques at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan adopted him as one of their own.

Every day, more and more Punch the monkey videos are going viral. Unfortunately for our friend Punch, the baby macaque has once again become the unsung star of many AI videos.

As Mashable has written, the latest AI video models can create incredibly lifelike videos, and even professionals can easily find AI-generated videos. In this situation, the potential for misinformation and dehumanization is blessedly low, but no one likes to feel cheated.

For example, you may have seen this recent video, which shows Punch hugging his mother-in-law.

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Good!

The video has millions of views. It is also completely fake.

When I first saw the video on my timeline, I thought something about it was messed up. Most AI videos have a glossy look, and details tend to look hyperreal. This time, the mother monkey’s nipples immediately popped out. However, that is not true.

Look closely, and you can see Punch’s arm moving between the mother macaque’s arm.

Of course, some of Punch the monkey’s AI videos are pretty obvious. When the little macaque went viral, people started making videos of Punch’s AI taking revenge on the apes who offended him.

Most AI videos with Punch aren’t trying to trick the viewer, and real or not, they can be a lot of fun.

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How to watch viral AI videos of Punch the monkey

Mashable has an entire guide to identifying AI videos, as well as tips for spotting AI videos, in particular.

As Mashable’s tech editor, I can also share some handy tips.

First, trust your instincts.

If the video seems too surreal, too good, or just which is wrong somehow, listen to that instinct. Punch probably doesn’t have access to guns, as one example.

Often, a closer look will reveal obvious problems with the video.

that’s why you should take a closer look at the AI ​​artifacts. Like Punch’s arm moving on a monkey’s limbs, AI videos often have small details that defy the laws of physics and logic. Watch for objects that suddenly multiply, disappear, or move in impossible ways.

One of my best suggestions: Check the length of the video. Even the best AI video generators can only create six to 12 second clips. If you watch an extended scene of 30 seconds or more without cutting or editing, it is more likely to be original.

Finally, check the video source.

Most of the AI ​​videos come from slop accounts that post AI videos in bulk. They try to monetize their audience by posting AI slop, and a quick glance at their timeline will usually give away the game.

Fortunately, there are plenty of original Punch the monkey videos and pictures for you to enjoy. You can also follow Mashable’s Punch the Monkey coverage for the latest confirmed updates on the internet’s favorite star.

For now, I’ll leave you with these adorable, and almost real, streaming videos:

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