Ken Jennings, the host of the quiz show Jeopardy, apologized following backlash after a clue described the online character John Pork as “AI generated.”
The debatable clue appeared in the category “Daddy, is there really a…” and read: No: A.I. generated the TikTok image of this pig/human eventually killed by Tim Cheese.
Contestants Cindy del Rosario, Sondra Venable, and Dargan Ware were visibly confused by the question.
“I didn't understand any of that,” said Jennings, then answered, “Who is John Pork?”
John Pork is a fictional meme character featuring a pig's head on a human body. His playful social media presence on Instagram and TikTok contrasts strikingly with his bizarre appearance. In meme lore, he was allegedly assassinated by a rat hitman named Tim Cheese.
After a clip of the John Pork question circulated on TikTok, users debated the clue's accuracy. Many pointed out that John Pork existed in social media circles as early as 2018, before the widespread use of generative AI, calling into question the “AI generated” label.
“I hope you'll forgive me and all of us at 'Jeopardy' for any insult,” Jennings said in response to the criticism.
The debate highlights challenges in labeling internet meme culture and using AI-related descriptions accurately in media.
Author's summary: Ken Jennings apologized after 'Jeopardy' stirred debate by calling the meme character John Pork "AI generated," sparking discussion about internet culture and AI accuracy.