Vladimir Putin hesitates when questioned by AI doppelgänger

Dec 14, 2023

Ryan Robertson Anchor/Reporter

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor/Reporter), Brock Koller (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

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Four hours into his annual press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin received a video-based question from what seemed like an AI-generated version of himself. The synthetic doppelgänger asked the real Putin about body doubles and his thoughts on artificial intelligence.

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“Vladimir Vladimirovich,” the double said, according to a Reuters report and translation. “Hello. I am a student at St. Petersburg State University. I want to ask, is it true you have a lot of doubles?”

“And also,” the double continued, “How do you view the dangers that artificial intelligence and neural networks bring into our lives?”

“I see you may resemble me and speak with my voice,” the real Putin said after appearing to hesitate. “But I have thought about it and decided that only one person must be like me and speak with my voice, and that will be me.”

“That is my first double, by the way,” Putin added.

Officials and media have previously speculated about Putin using body doubles for public appearances due to health and security reasons.

In November 2023, Japanese researchers claimed several versions of Putin exist after analyzing body movements, facial recognition and voice comparisons.

The Kremlin has denied these accusations at every turn.

Putin admitted he’s been offered the use of body doubles for security reasons in the past. In a 2020 interview with a Russian news agency, Putin said he was presented with an opportunity to use a body double during Russia’s second war against Chechnya in the early 2000s — but he claims he declined it.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Russia, Vladimir Putin

RYAN ROBERTSON, REPORTER:

THIS STORY MAY HAVE YOU DOING A DOUBLE-TAKE.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN WAS FOUR HOURS INTO A NEWS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY WHEN HE WAS CONFRONTED BY — VLADIMIR PUTIN – WELL, WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE VERSION OF HIMSELF.

IT HAPPENED DURING AN ANNUAL EVENT IN MOSCOW WHERE CALLERS CAN ASK QUESTIONS OF THE RUSSIAN LEADER VIA VIDEO LINK.

PUTIN, AI VERSION:

IS IT TRUE YOU HAVE A LOT OF DOUBLES?

RYAN ROBERTSON, REPORTER

PUTIN’S SYNTHETIC DOPPELGANGER OPENED HIS QUESTIONING ON THE DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY SAYING HE’S A STUDENT AT SAINT PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE AI CALLER THEN ASKED PUTIN – IF IT’S TRUE HE HAS A LOT OF REAL-LIFE BODY DOUBLES?

THE QUESTION PROMPTED LAUGHTER FROM THE AUDIENCE.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION OVER THE YEARS PUTIN USES BODY DOUBLES FOR PUBLIC APPEARANCES DUE TO HEALTH AND SECURITY REASONS.

JUST LAST MONTH – JAPANESE RESEARCHERS CLAIMED THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF PUTIN AFTER ANALYZING BODY MOVEMENTS, FACIAL RECOGNITION AND VOICE COMPARISONS.

THE KREMLIN, OF COURSE, DENIES SUCH ACCUSATIONS AT EVERY TURN

PUTIN TOLD HIS AI DOUBLE “I SEE YOU MAY RESEMBLE ME AND SPEAK WITH MY VOICE — BUT I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND DECIDED THAT ONLY ONE PERSON MUST BE LIKE ME AND SPEAK WITH MY VOICE, AND THAT WILL BE ME.”

THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT ADDED “THAT IS MY FIRST DOUBLE, BY THE WAY.”

PUTIN ADMITTED HE’S BEEN OFFERED THE USE OF BODY DOUBLES FOR SECURITY REASONS IN THE PAST.

IN A 2020 INTERVIEW WITH A RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY, PUTIN SAID HE WAS PRESENTED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE A BODY DOUBLE DURING RUSSIA’S SECOND WAR AGAINST CHECHNYA IN THE EARLY 2000S – BUT HE DECLINED IT.