Are you sure that Kimmel clip was real? Late-night AI deepfakes are spreading online
AI-generated deepfakes of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel are proliferating on social media, misleading viewers into believing they are authentic clips. Experts warn that the familiarity of these hosts makes them particularly susceptible to being used for misinformation.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing threat of generative AI in creating convincing political misinformation and eroding public trust in media.
Jimmy Kimmel is currently out on summer break from his late-night talk show on ABC. But the casual fan might be forgiven for thinking the host hasn't left the building. Social media videos appear to show him commenting on everything from President Trump falling asleep in the middle of a meeting, to the president's attacks on Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
Fake videos showing Kimmel and other late-night TV talk show hosts are mushrooming on social media. These videos, made using generative AI, are in some ways easier to create than deepfakes of other types of celebrity — and could potentially be more disruptive.
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