France’s President Emmanuel Macron tweeted an AI-generated deepfake video on Sunday to promote the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, which began Monday in Paris.
The video digitally inserts Macron into various scenes, including dancing at a party, acting in a movie, appearing on a TV show, and creating content, among other scenarios.
In the clip, Macron laughed at the montage, saying, “It’s pretty well done.” He highlighted AI’s potential, stating that artificial intelligence could bring major changes to healthcare, energy, and society. He urged France and Europe to lead AI advancements while maintaining their principles.
Macron has previously voiced concerns about deepfakes. In October, he told Variety that they “can disinform, which can upset our democracies.” He called for regulations that hold content distributors accountable.
Experts have questioned Macron’s use of deepfakes, the BBC reported. Paul McKay, an analyst at Forrester, warned that normalizing deepfake technology makes it harder to distinguish fact from fiction.
Dr. Richard Whittle from Salford Business School called it “a risk,” saying it could encourage wider adoption of deceptive AI-generated content.
Running through Tuesday, the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit brings together world leaders, tech executives, and academics to discuss AI’s role in governance, society, and the environment, with a global declaration on AI ethics expected at the end of the event.