Will Smith Eating Spaghetti test
{{Short description|Test to check capabilities of text-to-video models}}
File:Will Smith Eating Spathetti Original.webm
The Will Smith Eating Spaghetti test is an informal benchmark within the artificial intelligence community, used to assess the capabilities of generative video models in rendering realistic human actions and facial expressions. Originating from a widely shared AI generated video in 2023, the test has since been used as an informal reference point to demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of AI-generated video content.{{Cite web |last=Bandara |first=Pesala |date=2025-05-28 |title=Google's Veo 3 Nails the Infamous Will Smith Eating Spaghetti Test |url=https://petapixel.com/2025/05/28/googles-veo-3-nails-the-infamous-will-smith-eating-spaghetti-test/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=PetaPixel |language=en}}
Origin
On March 23, 2023, Reddit user "chaindrop" shared an AI-generated video titled "Will Smith eating spaghetti" on the subreddit r/StableDiffusion, created using ModelScope's text-to-video tool. The clip depicted a distorted and surreal version of actor Will Smith eating spaghetti.{{Cite web |title=Horrific AI-Generated Video Shows Will Smith Eating Spaghetti |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/horrific-ai-generated-video-shows-will-smith-eating-spaghetti |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Futurism}} The video quickly gained attention for its uncanny visuals, with Smith's facial features morphing unpredictably and his eating motions appearing unnatural. The unsettling nature of the video led to widespread sharing and discussions across social media platforms.{{Cite web |last=Placido |first=Dani Di |title='Demonic' AI-Generated 'Will Smith Eating Spaghetti' Clip Goes Viral |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2023/04/03/will-smith-eating-spaghetti-is-the-latest-ai-generated-eldritch-abomination/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=2023-03-28 |title=AI Will Smith Eating Spaghetti Hill Haunt You For the Rest of Your Life |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ai-will-smith-eating-spaghetti-hill-haunt-you-for-the-rest-of-your-life/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}
Spread
The original video went viral and prompted a number of parodies and reinterpretations by netizens. In February 2024, Will Smith himself joined the trend by posting a parody video on Instagram, mimicking the AI-generated clip and captioning it, "This is getting out of hand!".{{Cite web |title=Will Smith Makes Parody Of Himself Eating Spaghetti In AI-Generated Video |url=https://www.news18.com/viral/will-smith-makes-parody-of-himself-eating-spaghetti-in-ai-generated-video-8787686.html |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News18 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=AI Will Smith Eating Spaghetti Has Never Looked (& Sounded) So Real |url=https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/articles/ai-smith-eating-spaghetti-never-192528564.html |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Yahoo Tech |language=en-US}}
Use as a benchmark
File:Will Smith eating spaghetti Google Veo 3.webm
The prompt has evolved into a litmus test for evaluating the realism and coherence of AI-generated videos.{{Cite web |last=Massey |first=Debra |date=2025-01-01 |title=Will Smith eating spaghetti and other weird AI benchmarks that took off in 2024 |url=https://timescatalog.com/will-smith-eating-spaghetti-and-other-weird-ai-benchmarks-that-took-off-in-2024/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Times Catalog |language=en-US}} As Large Language models advanced, developers and other users use the test to identify improvements. In May 2025, Google's Veo 3, an AI video generation tool, produced a rendition of the test that showcased significant enhancements in facial accuracy, motion fluidity, and audio synchronization.{{Cite news |date=2025-05-22 |title=Google's Veo 3 goes viral with Will Smith eating Spaghetti test that once broke the internet |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/social/googles-veo-3-goes-viral-with-will-smith-eating-spaghetti-test-that-once-broke-the-internet/articleshow/121342790.cms |access-date=2025-06-01 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} According to Forbes, Veo 3 passed the "Will Smith Eating Spaghetti" test.{{Cite web |last=Placido |first=Dani Di |title=Google's AI Passed The 'Will Smith Eating Spaghetti' Test |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2025/05/22/google-passed-the-will-smith-eating-spaghetti-test/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Despite the improvements, viewers observed minor inconsistencies, such as unusually crunchy sound effects accompanying the spaghetti consumption.{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Rebekah |date=2025-05-26 |title="Super al dente": The Will Smith eating spaghetti meme gets a high-resolution upgrade with Google's Veo 3. But why is it crunchy? |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/will-smith-ai-spaghetti-google-veo/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}