A real Claude Monet painting fooled social media users in an AI art debate, sparking discussion about artificial intelligence's image-making capabilities.

A user on X posted a real 1915 Claude Monet waterlilies painting described as 'in the style of Monet' as a social experiment. Hundreds of users replied with criticism, saying it 'lacks the texture' and had 'no clear focal point,' unaware they were viewing an authentic work.

The experiment exposed how AI's image-making abilities have advanced enough to fool most viewers, according to one commenter who argued artists must recognize this shift. Another poster reframed the troll itself as artistic commentary, comparing it to conceptual art that challenges conventional definitions of what qualifies as sculpture or painting.

The incident prompted debate about the implications of AI-generated images for the future of art, with some arguing the technology presents a challenge that the art world cannot ignore.