Putin quizzed by apparent AI version of himself during live phone-in

Celebrity Gig


Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his combine call-in-show and annual press conference on December 14, 2023 in Moscow, Russia.

Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked a question by what appeared to be an AI-generated “deepfake” of himself during a Q&A session with the public Thursday.

Putin held his annual phone-in with the Russian public, which was combined with his end-of-year news conference. It’s a closely followed event, but also a carefully orchestrated and curated affair, giving Russian citizens a chance to speak directly with the president on a range of issues.

READ ALSO:  Alibaba to launch local version of China e-commerce site Tmall in Europe

“Mr President, good afternoon, I am a student studying at St Petersburg Institute. Do you have a lot of twins? And another point, what is your attitude towards the dangers with neural networks and artificial intelligence?” the AI questioner asked, according to a live NBC News translation.

The question was met with laughter from the watching crowd, and a brief pause from a stern-looking Putin.

“I see you may resemble me and speak with my voice. But I have thought about it and decided that only one person must be like me and speak with my voice, and that will be me,” Putin responded.

READ ALSO:  Mark Zuckerberg debuts Meta Quest Pro VR headset that will cost $1,500

The Kremlin recently dismissed long-standing speculation in the press and on social media that Putin uses body doubles at some events. Meanwhile, there is growing concern across the globe about the use of AI deepfakes to spread misinformation.

“Deepfake” is a term used to describe an AI-created image, sound or video of a real person. This tech is being used to spread false information by doctoring images or audio of political figures and celebrities.

READ ALSO:  Development bank to disburse N150bn to MSMEs

Putin, like other world leaders, is attempting to position Russia as a front-runner in AI technology at a time when countries around the globe are vying for a leadership position.

The U.S., China, and European Union are racing to dominate in AI — while also paying attention to the risks surrounding the technology — as it is becoming more and more advanced, with some AI-generated avatars now nearly indistinguishable from humans.

— CNBC’s Holly Ellyatt and Ryan Browne contributed to this article.

Categories

Share This Article
Leave a comment