Ex-NYC Mayor Eric Adams targeted in bonkers Chinese AI…

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been the subject of a series of AI-generated videos circulating on social media, featuring fabricated voiceovers and manipulated footage. These clips depict the former mayor making surreal declarations, including claims that he is Jesus Christ and predictions regarding national policy.

What happened

The content originated from Chinese social media platforms like RedNote and Xiaohongshu before being translated and repurposed for broader audiences. The creator of these clips, Progodi, utilizes AI-generated voice cloning to mimic the mayor's signature inflection and vocal tics. By selecting the best takes from a voice clone, the creator overlays this audio onto existing footage of the former mayor. The process involves removing the original background, syncing the manipulated audio, and adding background music generated via ElevenLabs.

One specific video shows an AI-generated version of Adams standing in a church, claiming to be the son of God and discussing a new Libertarian constitution. Other segments feature the AI avatar making controversial statements about deportation and law enforcement. Beyond political and religious themes, the deepfakes also depict Adams participating in mundane activities, such as cooking or explaining life hacks, including a video where he instructs viewers on boiling grapes with maltose. The creator noted that the former mayor was chosen because his history of making unusual public remarks makes the fabricated content feel plausible to viewers.