‘It’s not me’: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett issues ‘AI Deepfake’ advisory

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has issued a public warning after it is reported that several videos utilising AI-generated images and voices of the CEO are circulating on YouTube, offering investment advice he never gave.

The message from the company is clear: there is only one “Oracle of Omaha,” and viewers should be wary of increasingly convincing deepfakes.Berkshire Hathaway issued a press release titled "It’s Not Me", specifically highlighting a video titled "Warren Buffett: The #1 Investment Tip For Everyone Over 50 (MUST WATCH)," where an impersonated voice offers financial advice.The company stated that while the visuals often mimic the 95-year-old investor, the audio typically features flat, generic speech that “clearly” is not his voice.

Read full message from Berkshire Hathaway

It has come to the attention of Warren Buffett that there are several videos posted on YouTube that include alleged comments of Mr. Buffett by images or AI created images impersonating Mr. Buffett. Generally, such video images of Mr. Buffett may appear to look like him but the sound of the impersonator speaking in a very flat monotone voice is clearly not the voice of Mr. Buffett. A link to one such video appearing on YouTube follows: https://www.youtube.com/@WW2Echoessss. Mr. Buffett is concerned that these types of fraudulent videos are becoming a spreading virus. Individuals who are less familiar with Mr. Buffett may believe these videos are real and be misled by the contents of these videos.Mr. Buffett has rarely commented publicly since Berkshire’s shareholder’s meeting last May. On Monday, November 10th, Berkshire will be issuing a press release which will contain a message from Mr. Buffett regarding philanthropy, Berkshire and other matters that Berkshire shareholders and others may find to be of interest. According to a report by news agency Reuters, Buffett has been an increasing target for AI impersonators, a phenomenon he has complained about previously. In October 2024, weeks before the US presidential election, he warned of "fraudulent claims" that he had endorsed political candidates and investment products. The investor has largely stepped back from formal political endorsements in recent years.