It's def not originally ai, however this image is the only example I've seen of this over like the past 10 years, it seems legit since I know gorillas don't really like you looking them in the eyes, but if so then why has this image specifically become the face of this concept. I gotta look into this I guess.

Edit: so apparently this happened one single time at the behest of an Insurance company after a gorilla attacked a woman. It's not common practice anywhere as far as I saw.