For what we believe is the first time, a national television network has broadcast a news commentary show (PolitUkladchik, the one our cataloging uncovered this week) that uses deepfake technology to "interview" two sitting heads of state (US President Donald Trump and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen) on their respective policies and thoughts on issues relating to Ukraine. While both interviews contain an on-air textual overlay that "This interview was made possible thanks to AI", they go so far as to replicate the voices and body language of both leaders. While the deepfakes aren't quite perfect, feature them speaking in fluent Russian and still have that "uncanny valley" oddness to them, there are moments where they look like authentic video clips, rather than computer generated. It isn't hard to imagine that the clips could be easily excerpted and circulated on social media with subtitles or logos hiding the AI disclaimer and pixelated just enough to mask the AI oddness that might fool viewers into believing they are real.

While deepfakes are increasingly prevalent in the online world, we believe this may be a world first that a national television network has broadcast a deepfake interview with a world leader. While imperfect and bearing a clear disclaimer, this is only the fourth episode of this new show, PolitUkladchik, which pushes AI boundaries with each episode, suggesting it could change accepted norms and normalize broadcast use of a wealth of AI and deepfake techniques as it continues. For all the theoretical hysteria among policymakers, press and pundits in the US and Europe about the future potential of deepfakes, Russian television is actually realizing all of these concerns in a single new series.

Below you can see the deepfake interview with Donald Trump, along with a machine translated transcript:

All that's left is to find out what peacemaker Trump thinks about Zelensky's words, attention, exclusive, for the first time in the political arena. An interview taken from big Donnie by artificial intelligence. Today we have as our guest the forty-fifth person, according to him the forty-seventh president of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump. Mr. Trump, are you with us? We are with you more than with us, we are the most with us people on this planet, believe me, are just huge with us. I'm glad to hear that. So, Mr. Trump, our first question. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is defeating Russia. if the latter deprived the Kyiv regime of control over not the entire territory. But you know what I'm going to tell you? They could have won if they had listened to me. In what sense? I told them, I told everyone, it was necessary to strike Moscow with something really big. Not with rockets. No. Oh, sorry. I would have built the biggest and most beautiful casino in the world there. Trump Moscow World. Right on Red Square. With golden toilets. And all the Russian oligarchs, they would all be inside. All their money would be inside. Problem solved. They would just play poker and forget about this whole war. A very bad deal for them, very distracting. A casino? Is that your plan for achieving peace? Not just a casino. It would be a resort. Five stars. Plus two more stars, because I added them. Seven stars. The best resort in the world. And you know what? I would call Putin. We have a great relationship, the best. And I would say: 'Vladimir, I have a deal for you. Either you get the keys to the luxury jacuzzi, or we raise the stakes.' He would have agreed. It would have been the biggest surrender in history. It would even be shown live on air. Fiery ratings. And what would be the result of this victory of yours? Russia pays for the reconstruction of Ukraine in cash. Or with cryptocurrency. I don't mind, but cash is better. It's genius. Everyone wins. I mean, we do, especially us. Mr. Trump, but… Look, nobody understands winning better than me. I've always won. I won the election. I've won at golf, I've won in business. I even won at 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'. Although I was never invited, because I'm already a millionaire. But I would have won. Thank you, everyone. You've been a great audience. The best. Ah, well, as they say, there's a plan for every occasion. With us was Donald Trump. We just have to find out who will pay for the golden toilets. Thank you for being with us. Good night, everybody.

And here is the deepfake interview with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with a machine translated transcript:

The European Commission is ready to allocate 500 million euros for the "Soprano" program for Ukraine. We will replace all opera parts performed by undesirable elements with patriotic ones that align with the values of the European Union. For example, Carmen's aria can be remade into "We Believe in the EU." This will be both culturally and ideologically correct. What about freedom of creativity? Freedom of creativity is the cornerstone of Europe. We have already instructed our experts in Brussels to develop a directive on the harmonization of opera. Conductors will be required to use tuning forks tuned to the frequency of European solidarity. And one last thing. There are rumors that you personally were a fan of Ms. Netrebko. That was my disinformation. My musical preferences are fully in line with the current policy of the European Commission. Currently, I listen exclusively to the EU anthem and Ukrainian folk songs. This is precisely our common European culture. Thank you.

The broadcast even contains a minute-long deepfake of a crossdressing President Macron helping President Zelensky get dressed and the latter's visit to Moscow to meet with President Putin.