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Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has shocked viewers after he shared an AI fake photo of himself claiming the Earth is flat.
The video warned of how easily artificial intelligence can blur the line between truth and falsehood. (Image source: X)
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson shared a video that has many viewers concerned about the growing power of artificial intelligence (AI). The clip began with Tyson himself appearing to say that the Earth is flat, a shocking statement that immediately caught attention. Moments later, the real Tyson appears, revealing that the prequel was an AI-generated deepfake meant to show how easy it is to distort the truth.
The video, titled “It’s Hard to Know What’s Real,” highlights how deepfakes can convincingly imitate real people, even respected figures like Tyson. He used the example to warn people on social media about how this technology can be misused and how difficult it is to distinguish fact from fiction.
Tyson explains his concern about deepfakes
After revealing the truth, Tyson explained that while deepfakes can be entertaining when they’re clearly a parody, they cross the line when they fool people.
“I didn’t think much about deepfakes until I became a deepfake,” he said. “Early stuff is fine if it’s a parody, and if it’s obvious it’s a parody. But when you do this and the viewer doesn’t know it’s a parody, you cross the line.”
Tyson also noted that he’s not the only public figure to have faced this, saying that many celebrities have been deepfaked in ways that damage their credibility or distort their actual words. His warning comes at a time when artificial intelligence tools are becoming more advanced and accessible, making it easier for anyone to engage with content.
The Internet reacts with frightening realism
People on social media were amazed at how realistic the deepfake look was, with many admitting they couldn’t tell it was fake until Tyson showed up.
“Deepfakes have gotten so good. It’s getting harder to tell,” one user wrote.
Another said: “Damn. I’m honestly convinced the second part was also a deepfake.”
Others expressed concern about the broader implications of this technology. “How will we know what’s real anymore?” someone asked.
Another proposal for blockchain technology could play a role in verifying original content, saying: “This is where there is a place for blockchain for culture… Content chains are important for storing knowledge.”
What is deepfake technology?
Deepfake technology uses artificial intelligence to create fake videos, photos or audio clips that look like the real thing. It can make a person seem to say or do things they have never done before. Apps using this technology have become extremely popular, with tools like Sora getting over a million downloads in just a few days on Apple’s App Store.
The team of writers at News18.com bring you stories about what’s buzzing on the internet while exploring science, cricket, technology, sex, Bollywood and culture.
Delhi, India, India
01 Nov 2025 at 1:31 PM IST
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