Is Makita Robot Monkey Real or Fake? Truth Behind Viral Assistant Video Exposed

A video showcasing a so-called Makita robot monkey assisting a construction worker has recently gained viral traction on Facebook. The clip, posted by user Aaron Charles Sheridan, features the robotic assistant purportedly aiding with tasks such as holding drywall, drawing widespread attention. The video amassed nearly six million views and received over 17,000 likes.

Despite its popularity, the footage is fraudulent. It was produced using Sora, an AI video generation tool, as evidenced by the visible watermark in the clip. Makita, the renowned Japanese manufacturer of power tools, does not offer such a product on its official website or through its global supply channels.

The majority of Facebook users quickly discerned the video’s inauthenticity, responding with humor and jokes about the robot monkey. However, some viewers were convinced of the video’s legitimacy. Among these, there were concerns that the Makita robot assistant could displace human labor and that if its battery depleted during work, it might complicate the task further.

This video exemplifies a broader trend of AI-generated content gaining momentum across social media platforms. Released in October 2024, OpenAI’s Sora tool can produce remarkably realistic videos. Axios reported that the upgraded Sora Pro version can generate videos without any watermark, making detection even more challenging.

The proliferation of counterfeit videos has escalated, featuring animals performing improbable feats—such as bicycling—and various animated sequences. The presence of the Sora watermark has sparked inquiries on Reddit from users seeking methods to remove it.

Jeremy Carrasco, founder of Showtools.ai, commented that while AI-generated videos are not flawless, most social media users lack the expertise to distinguish them from authentic footage. He described the ability to detect such fabrications as a crucial “media literacy skill,” but cautioned that rapid technological progress might deceive even highly informed individuals.

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