Buffett compares AI to nukes after seeing deepfake doppelganger

Warren Buffett, the banking tycoon, raised worries about deepfakes created by artificial intelligence and the resilience of con artists during Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting. As of April 2024, Buffett is the ninth wealthiest person in the world. He praised the company’s growth and resiliency during the annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, even after vice chairman Charlie Munger passed away in November 2023.

Warren Buffett’s focus turned to artificial intelligence (AI) as the annual conference went on. He acknowledged that he did not know much about AI but highlighted its importance.

During a Q&A session, he went into further detail on the topic, comparing the possible effects of artificial intelligence on illicit financial operations to the far-reaching effects of the atomic bomb and the spread of nuclear weapons.

Buffett, who was ninety-three years old, described a startling encounter with a deepfake doppelgänger that closely resembled him in terms of appearance, clothing, gait, and speech. His concerns about the possible abuse of AI technology were heightened by this unsettling event.

“I mean, scamming has always been part of the American scene, but this would make me, if I was interested in investing in scamming, it’s going to be the growth industry of all time. And it’s enabled in a way. AI has potential for good things too but I don’t know how you, based on the one I saw recently, I practically would send money to myself repeatedly in some crazy country.”

Shifting Landscapes in Corporate Strategy with Buffett’s Contradictions

Though Berkshire Hathaway’s principal financial holdings are in Apple, the second most valuable corporation in the world, it’s important to remember that Warren Buffett has previously voiced reservations about the frightening potential of AI. After making a significant investment in OpenAI, the firm that created ChatGPT, Microsoft has surpassed Apple as the most valuable corporation, symbolically soaring to the top. As a result, Apple appears to be making an effort to catch up, with generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools serving as the focal point of many of its public relations initiatives.

Berkshire Hathaway has made an important investment in Apple, the second most valuable corporation in the world, in opposition to Warren Buffett’s concerns regarding AI. On the other hand, Microsoft’s rise to importance, propelled by its investments in OpenAI, highlights how technology and innovation are constantly changing. The competitive dynamics in the IT sector are always shifting as a result of Apple’s increased efforts in creating generative AI products. This is because technical breakthroughs are constantly changing.