The 'Bing AI Characters Doing 9/11' meme emerged in late 2023 following the release of Microsoft's Bing Image Creator, which initially featured lenient content filters. Internet users quickly discovered they could bypass safety restrictions to generate high-quality images of beloved pop culture icons like Mario, Mickey Mouse, and SpongeBob SquarePants at the site of the September 11 attacks. These images became a viral sensation on platforms like X and Reddit, serving as both a display of dark humor and a critique of the unpredictable nature of AI-generated content. The trend eventually forced Microsoft to significantly tighten its censorship protocols, making these specific generations a digital artifact of early generative AI's chaotic 'wild west' era.