Anderson CooperPhoto: Shutterstock
Twice-impeached Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released an AI-generated “deepfake” video of gay CNN anchor Anderson Cooper reacting to Trump’s appearance at a recent City Hall event. shared. The nine-second video conveys Trump’s usual crude self-aggrandisation, but also demonstrates his willingness to share fake video content as part of his 2024 campaign.
The video shows Anderson speaking shortly after President Trump at the CNN Town Hall on May 11, where the anchor says: Thank you for reading. have a good night. “
Cooper didn’t actually say that, of course, but there are tons of videos and voices of Cooper online, so an AI program could easily generate a look and sound similar to Cooper’s. Similar deepfake videos often feature celebrities who have appeared in numerous movies and TV clips.
The video, posted by President Trump on May 19th, was clearly intended to be a joke and a revelation to CNN, in particular that President Trump is lashing out at City Hall host Caitlan Collins and telling lies about the 2020 election. This is especially true as many comments noted how he repeatedly denigrated Mr. E, who accused him of sexual abuse. Jean Carroll, the audience seemed delighted.
But the video also raises serious concerns about President Trump and others trying to spread AI-generated fake voices of other celebrities as part of the upcoming presidential campaign. . The technique could also be used to create apparently fake and “humorous” videos like this one. But candidates and foreign agents could also use the technology to sway voters with high-quality deepfakes that look very real.
In a May report, the Brookings Institution said that with the proliferation of AI software, anyone could easily generate and spread deepfake videos. “The 2024 presidential election could be contested by tens of thousands of voters in several states, so what can move people in any direction will ultimately be decisive,” the institute said. could become,” he said.
After City Hall, Cooper responded to criticism that CNN gave Donald Trump a forum for lying, using racist language, and disrespecting women who sexually assaulted him. told viewers: Are the people you agree with going to let the person go? “
