By Tamika Worrell
Publication Date: 2026-01-14 18:38:00
The self-described “Bush legend” on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram is enjoying growing popularity.
In these short and sharp videos, an Aboriginal man – sometimes dressed in ochre, sometimes all in khaki – introduces various native animals and facts about them. These videos are paired with various Yidaki (didgeridoo) pieces, including techno mixes.
His bubbly personality is often mentioned in the comments on the videos, and some comments say he needs his own TV show.
But the Bush legend is not real. It is generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
This is part of a growing influx of AI being used to represent Indigenous peoples, knowledge and cultures without shared ownership or relationships with Indigenous peoples. It constitutes a new form of cultural appropriation that is of increasing concern to indigenous peoples.
Do they know it’s AI?
The user description on the Bush Legend pages states that the images are AI. But does…
