In a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, host Amitabh Bachchan expressed his concerns about artificial intelligence, sharing his unsettling experiences with the technology.

“Mera ab tak AI ke saath jo parichay hua hai, woh galat hi hua hai. Log mere chehre se na jaane kya kya bana dete hain. Lipsync kar dete hain. Log samajhte hain main hoon. (My experience with AI so far has only been negative. People create all sorts of things using my face. They lip-sync my voice, and people think it's really me)”.” he said, referring to manipulated images and videos of him circulating online. His comment came in response to contestant and IIT student Priyanshu’s praise of AI as a major technological boon.

Bachchan recalled a fan from the Africa sending him an AI-generated image of himself typing on a computer—something he had never done. Shocked, he asked how it was created, only to learn it was made using AI while the fan was listening to his song.

Priyanshu explained that such content is produced through deepfake technology, which uses AI to create hyper-realistic fake images, videos, or audio recordings. This has increasingly affected Indian celebrities, including actors, sports stars, and politicians.

In 2023, actresses Rashmika Mandanna and Priyanka Chopra Jonas were victims of deepfake manipulation. Others, like Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, and Sara Tendulkar, have also been targeted, with their faces and voices altered in fabricated content.

While deepfake technology has promising applications, experts warn of its dangers. It poses serious threats to democracy, privacy, and security, fuelling misinformation and deception. With AI tools becoming more accessible and affordable, the spread of deepfake videos has surged, raising urgent ethical and regulatory concerns.

As AI continues to evolve, striking a balance between innovation and security remains crucial in preventing its misuse.