The medium, rather than the message, of Vladimir Putin's New Year's address sparked comments from social media users wondering whether the Russian leader's annual address might have had a digital backing.
The speech is a regular part of holiday celebrations in Russia and is followed across the country. The president's televised New Year's Eve speech, a tradition started by former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, is broadcast before midnight in each of Russia's 11 time zones.
Putin said in his address on Sunday that “we can solve the most difficult problems” and that there is “no power that can separate us.” Shortly after the speech, there were hints on the Internet that something about his appearance was different from reality.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's address to the Russian people in Moscow on December 31, 2023. His appearance sparked speculation among social media users about whether he was AI-generated. Gabriel Grigorov
“Apparently Putin’s New Year’s greeting was generated by an AI,” Mykhaïlo Golub posted on and the rest of his body.
“Look at his neck) He's not even wearing a suit, what is that? Too lazy to wear a suit? Or a neural network?” wrote user RASSEL on a post shared by pro-Ukrainian Estonian user Regina Bauer. Bauer wrote that the speech “looks like… AI/green screen from the bunker.”
The posts appear to be a light-hearted dig at Putin and there is no evidence that Putin did not give the speech himself. Newsweek emailed the Kremlin for comment.
But in one of the more surreal moments of his annual televised question-and-answer session with the nation in December, the Russian leader spoke about an AI version of himself created by a student in St. Petersburg.
Imagine you ordered it but you won't know it. What is that? How much do they cost? Isn't that possible? pic.twitter.com/xtM9JCLXnK
— 🇪🇦RASSEL🇪🇦 (@XaslerTv) December 31, 2023
The image created and the voice of Putin asked the real Russian leader whether he had many doppelgangers, as reported in the Western media, and how he felt about the developments in artificial intelligence.
It looks like Putin's New York speech this year is AI/green screen from the bunker. https://t.co/gITemUhNl7
— Regina Bauer 🇪🇪🇪🇺🇺🇦🇫🇮 🇸🇪🇮🇱 (@petite_michelle) January 1, 2024
“You can talk to me and use my voice and tone, but I thought to myself that only one person can talk like me,” the real Putin replied, “and that will be me.”
Putin did not directly mention the war in Ukraine, although he praised the Russian army and called for “unity” in his speech, which took place in the background of the Kremlin, in contrast to last year when he was flanked by soldiers.
Putin said on Sunday that Russia was “resolute in defending national interests, our freedom and security, our values” and that “working for the common good has united society.” Putin announced he would run for another term as president in March. He is widely expected to win the election and could stay in power until 2036.
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Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.