Ask your doctor, not an AI-generated one - Deseret News

Clinical psychologist and NYU professor Rachel Goldman became the target of a deceptive deepfake campaign when her likeness was manipulated to falsely promote a weight-loss supplement. The incident underscores the growing trend of using generative AI to create misleading health advertisements that exploit the credibility of real experts to deceive consumers.

What happened

The deepfake originated from a 2023 appearance Goldman made as an expert panelist on "Oprah Daily." AI technology was used to manipulate the footage, making it appear as though Goldman was endorsing a "pink salt trick" for weight loss. In the manipulated video, Goldman seemingly stated that the product was "100% natural and free of side effects."

Goldman confirmed she never made these claims. The video, which surfaced during the popularity of the pink salt diet trend in 2025, successfully misled multiple individuals. The impact was significant enough that Goldman received inquiries from relatives who believed the endorsement, as well as messages from consumers who had purchased the product and realized they had been scammed.

This incident is part of a broader surge in AI-generated health content on social media, where advertisements often feature fake customers, doctors, or "Eastern medical gurus" to promote supplements with unsubstantiated claims. While New York state implemented a law in June 2026 requiring the identification of AI-generated synthetic performers in advertisements, there remains no comprehensive federal regulation in the United States. Although platforms like TikTok and Meta have policies against misleading health claims and AI labeling, many deceptive advertisements continue to circulate, often bypassing initial detection until they are manually reported.