It wasn't just Vladimir Putin's New Year's message that resonated around the world. The method of transmission was also widely discussed, especially on social media, which led to speculation about the health of the Russian president, who was always present in the news in 2023. On the Internet, many believe that the Moscow leader had help Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the language.
The presidential televised address on New Year's Eve is a tradition started by former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and is broadcast before midnight in each of Russia's 11 time zones.
Putin said that “we can solve the most difficult problems” and that “there is no force that can separate us.” Shortly after the speech, speculation surfaced online that there was something different about his appearance.
“Apparently Putin’s New Year greeting was generated by AI,” posted Mykhaïlo Golub on a “technical problem.”
“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 another user.
2 of 2 “Scar” on Putin's neck observed during a religious ceremony Photo: Reproduction/TASS “Scar” on Putin's neck observed during a religious ceremony Photo: Reproduction/TASS
A mark on the Russian president's neck in a picture from April last year sparked rumors that the politician's health was impaired, according to the American newspaper New York Post. Putin was photographed with what appeared to be a scar while attending Orthodox Easter services at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, information about the Moscow leader's fragile health has been circulating more and more frequently.
There is no evidence that Putin did not give a New Year's speech. Newsweek contacted the Kremlin for comment but did not receive a response.
Adding to the speculation, in one of the most surreal moments of his annual televised questionandanswer session with the nation in December, the Russian leader spoke about an AI version of himself created by a student in St. Petersburg (Russia).