Former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram has refuted reports of his death after an AI-generated video circulated on social media [1].
The incident highlights the growing danger of deepfake technology to spread misinformation about public figures. By mimicking the voices and likenesses of well-known personalities, these videos can deceive audiences into believing false news, such as the death of a national icon, before official corrections can be made.
The misinformation began with one AI-generated video [1] that appeared to show former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar. In the footage, Akhtar falsely claims Wasim Akram died of a heart attack [1]. The video quickly spread across various social media platforms in Pakistan, leading to widespread confusion among fans.
Akram said the news of his death was rubbish [1]. He clarified that the claims were entirely fabricated and that he is alive.
Fact-checkers have confirmed that the footage was not authentic. The video used artificial intelligence to synthesize the speech and image of Shoaib Akhtar to create a believable but false narrative [1]. This technique allows bad actors to create high-fidelity content that can bypass the initial skepticism of viewers who trust the visual evidence of a known figure speaking.
“Wasim Akram has rubbished news of his death.”
This incident demonstrates the increasing sophistication of generative AI in creating 'death hoaxes' that leverage the credibility of other trusted figures. As deepfakes become more accessible, the ability to manipulate public perception through synthetic media poses a significant challenge to digital literacy and the speed of verified news dissemination.
