Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures throughout his mix call-in-show and annual press convention on December 14, 2023 in Moscow, Russia.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin was requested a query by what gave the impression to be an AI-generated “deepfake” of himself throughout a Q&A session with the general public Thursday.
Putin held his annual phone-in with the Russian public, which was mixed along with his end-of-year information convention. It is a carefully adopted occasion, but in addition a rigorously orchestrated and curated affair, giving Russian residents an opportunity to talk straight with the president on a spread of points.
“Mr President, good afternoon, I’m a pupil finding out at St Petersburg Institute. Do you have got a variety of twins? And one other level, what’s your angle in the direction of the hazards with neural networks and synthetic intelligence?” the AI questioner requested, based on a dwell NBC Information translation.
The query was met with laughter from the watching crowd, and a quick pause from a stern-looking Putin.
“I see you could resemble me and communicate with my voice. However I’ve considered it and determined that just one individual have to be like me and communicate with my voice, and that will probably be me,” Putin responded.
The Kremlin not too long ago dismissed long-standing hypothesis within the press and on social media that Putin makes use of physique doubles at some occasions. In the meantime, there’s rising concern throughout the globe about using AI deepfakes to unfold misinformation.
“Deepfake” is a time period used to explain an AI-created picture, sound or video of an actual individual. This tech is getting used to unfold false data by doctoring pictures or audio of political figures and celebrities.
Putin, like different world leaders, is trying to place Russia as a front-runner in AI know-how at a time when international locations across the globe are vying for a management place.
The U.S., China, and European Union are racing to dominate in AI — whereas additionally taking note of the dangers surrounding the know-how — as it’s turning into increasingly more superior, with some AI-generated avatars now practically indistinguishable from people.
— CNBC’s Holly Ellyatt and Ryan Browne contributed to this text.