Ghost in the machine: Deepfake tools warp India election

An AI generated image of Karunanidhi is seen at his memorial that was opened to public in Chennai, India, on March 6, 2024. Karunanidhi died in 2018 but has since appeared in AI-generated videos – clad in his trademark black sunglasses – showering praise on his son M. K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu’s current chief minister. — AP

BENGALURU, India: Death has not extinguished the decades-long rivalry between two Indian leaders: both have now seemingly risen from the grave, in digital form, to rally their supporters ahead of national elections.

Political parties are harnessing powerful artificial intelligence tools to make deepfakes, reproducing famous faces and voices in ways that often appear authentic.