AI-generated animal videos are sweet, until you realise the joy, like the animal, was never really there.

Cats built the internet, and they’ll usually show you where it’s going next. “I Can Haz Cheeseburger” taught us about memes. Keyboard Cat introduced millions to YouTube. Grumpy Cat’s marketing deals established a business model for influencers. Now the online world is turning again.

Animals were one of the last reliable sources of joy on an internet filled with madness – innocence in a sea of anger and clickbait. But lately I’ve felt that slipping away.

For decades my reaction to cute animal videos was softness. Now it’s suspicion: was that real, or just AI?

If you look closely, there’s a strange psychological dance playing out here that you might unwittingly be part of. And just beneath the surface, you can see the economic forces dictating the next moves from the tech giants.