We all love viral videos of Punch the monkey. A lot of them are AI.

Source: Mashable Tech

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Timothy Beck Werth – Tech Editor
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart‑home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men’s product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull‑riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.

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Published on February 28, 2026

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Punch the Monkey: Internet Sensation

Does Punch know he’s the only thing holding the world together right now?
Credit: David Mareuil / Anadolu via Getty Images

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

As Punch’s beloved Ikea plushie became his emotional support animal, he became the world’s emotional support animal. For now the story seems to have a happy ending: as Punch grows up, the macaques at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan are accepting him as one of their own.

Every day, more videos of Punch the monkey go viral. Unfortunately for our friend Punch, the baby macaque has also become the unwitting star of many AI videos.

AI‑Generated Videos and Misinformation

As Mashable has documented, the latest AI video models can create incredibly lifelike videos, and even experts can struggle to definitively identify AI‑generated videos. In this particular case, the potential for misinformation and dehumanising deepfakes is blessedly low, but no one likes to feel tricked.

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So cute!
The video has millions of views. It’s also completely bogus.

When I first saw the video on my timeline, something looked off. Many AI videos have a glossy appearance, and details often look hyper‑real. In this case, the nipples on the mama monkey jumped out right away—but that wasn’t the real tell.

Watch closely, and you can see Punch’s arm move right through the maternal macaque’s arm.

Left: AI‑GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Screenshot: @peladodelatv
Right: AI‑GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Screenshot: @peladodelatv

Mashable Light Speed

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

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Mashable has an entire guide to identifying AI videos, as well as tips for spotting viral AI‑generated content.

How to Spot AI‑Generated Videos

1. Trust your instincts
   If a video seems too surreal, too cute, or just wrong somehow, listen to that instinct. Punch probably doesn’t have access to guns is one example. A closer examination often reveals obvious problems.

2. Look for AI artifacts
   Like Punch’s arm moving through another monkey’s limbs, AI videos may contain details that defy physics or common sense—objects multiplying, disappearing, or moving impossibly.

3. Check the video length
   Most AI generators produce clips of six‑to‑12 seconds. Extended scenes of 30 seconds or more without cuts are more likely to be real.

4. Check the source
   Many AI viral videos come from “slop” accounts that post AI content en masse to monetize their audience. A quick glance at the account’s timeline can often give it away. See the discussion on AI slop on TikTok.

Fortunately, there are countless genuine videos and images of Punch the monkey to enjoy. Follow Mashable’s Punch the Monkey coverage for the latest verified updates on the internet’s favorite star.

Adorable (and Almost Definitely Real) Viral Videos

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