Decode the first AI benchmark meme ‘Will Smith eating spaghetti’

The internet has always been full of weird and wonderful things, but sometimes it unearths something so bizarre like Will Smith eating spaghetti that everyone is left scratching their heads en masse. A good example here would be the "Will Smith eating spaghetti" meme.

It is rather hard to explain why the distorted video of a Hollywood megastar eating pasta with not the most graceful manners ended up taking social media by storm, but such is the beauty of the internet culture that thrives on the unexpected.

Yet the most intriguing thing about this meme was not even the bizarre visuals but, instead, the technology behind them AI in its full, early version, with text-to-video software that managed to take it to new and even chaotic realms of creativity.

It was an out-of-this-world video, totally uncanny, yet captivating for audiences, started trending everywhere, and gradually evolved into a yardstick for AI technologies.

If you’re still wondering how a virtual Will Smith ended up eating spaghetti in the first place or why everyone couldn’t stop talking about it, don’t worry we’re here to break it all down. From its origin story to the internet’s hilarious reactions, let’s dive into the world of AI’s weirdest meme.

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The Origins of "Will Smith eating spaghetti"

Picture this: It’s March 2023, and a new AI tool called ModelScope is gaining attention. This text-to-video technology allows users to input any prompt and generate a video. Naturally, the internet does what it does best pushes it to the extreme. Someone, perhaps out of sheer curiosity or chaos, types in “Will Smith eating spaghetti.”

The resulting video was, in one word, unsettling. It featured a warped, almost monstrous rendition of the beloved actor awkwardly devouring spaghetti, his face melting into a glitchy mess as spaghetti noodles tangled with his exaggerated expressions. It's weird, hypnotic, and impossible to unsee.

People instantly latched onto the absurdity, sharing the clip across social media platforms. What started as a simple experiment turned into an internet phenomenon a symbol of how hilariously imperfect early AI creations could be.

It wasn't until the users started adding their own twists and reactions to it that the meme actually took off. A few notable posts capturing this weird trend in all its glory are below.

This straightforward statement set the tone for what the world was watching: a fascinating yet somewhat terrifying glimpse at the nascent capabilities of AI.

Someone’s attempt to up the ante led to an even creepier result, proving that some AI experiments are better left unexplored.

This post perfectly summarized the surreal visuals that had become synonymous with this meme—a bizarre, dreamlike image that straddled the line between comedy and horror.

As with any viral sensation, the internet responded with its signature mix of wit and exaggeration. Here are some standout reactions:

This perfectly sums up how most people felt after seeing the original video—desperate to erase the image from their minds but unable to stop watching.

A tongue-in-cheek reaction that sums up the unsettling, almost sacrilegious vibe of seeing a much-beloved celebrity turn into some spaghetti-munching glitch.

But the "Will Smith eating spaghetti" meme is more than an internet trend-it's a curious mirror to the future of AI. From its "demonic phase" to what it is today, this meme has been an accidental yardstick for the progress of AI-generated content.

Who can tell what is in store for AI memes in the future? One thing's for sure: if it's even close to this one, it'll be comical, disquieting, and unforgettable.