Folsom, California’s AI-generated Bigfoot video hoped to boost tourism
The Sacramento suburb of Folsom, California, last month released a promotional video that showcased Bigfoot giving a guided tour of the city — going to the zoo, swimming in Lake Natoma, getting ice cream and ziplining.
The social media video, created by Chris Sheppard, the city’s communication officer, uses generative artificial intelligence. Having garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media, the clip is the latest instance of how state and local officials are increasingly turning to AI to boost tourism on a budget.
Sheppard told Spectrum News 1 that by using Google Veo, at no additional charge due to the city’s Google subscription, Folsom saved money while facing a $3 million deficit.
“We run on a very tight budget, like most local government here,” Sheppard told reporters. “And that’s what’s amazing about AI is it’s practically free to do these videos that have a production value of Hollywood.”
One recent report shows that AI-powered tourism promotion is projected to boom over the next five years, with market value expected to increase from $3.37 billion in 2024 to $13.86 billion by 2030, because the technology is cheap, fast and effective.
“These systems analyze large volumes of data such as search history, location, and behavior patterns to provide suggestions that align closely with individual preferences,” reads the June report from Research and Markets.
Folsom joins other cities using AI to enhance tourism. Seattle, sometimes called the Emerald City, recently launched Emerald, an AI travel resource powered by GuideGeek, a free AI-powered travel assistant, to provide visitors personalized recommendations. And New York City last January introduced Ellis, an AI chat platform designed to help professionals plan meetings and conventions across the city’s five boroughs.
