A recent deepfake video featuring Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has set social media abuzz. The manipulated clip, seemingly extracted from an older interview, portrays Kohli criticizing top-order batsman Shubman Gill. Here’s what you need to know:
The Deepfake Controversy
The AI-generated video convincingly mimics Kohli’s voice and facial expressions. In it, he questions Gill’s potential to become a cricketing legend.
The fabricated Kohli states, “When we came back from Australia, I figured out what it takes to succeed at the highest level. I have been watching Gill closely. He is talented, no doubt. But there’s a big gap between showing promise and becoming a legend. Gill’s technique is solid, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
The video further attributes a quote to Kohli: “People talk about the next Virat Kohli, but let me be clear, there’s only one Virat Kohli. I have faced the toughest bowlers, delivered in the most intense situations, and done it consistently for over a decade. You can’t replicate that with just a few good innings.”
AI is Dangerous pic.twitter.com/njUvwiwc4t
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) August 27, 2024
This isn’t the first time Kohli has been targeted by deepfake technology. An earlier fake video showed him promoting a betting app.
