Berkshire Hathaway's first Q&A without Warren Buffett opened with a question from a deepfake…

At Berkshire Hathaway's 2026 annual meeting, a deepfake Warren Buffett appeared to ask the first question during the Q&A session. The incident served as a stark reminder of the growing risks associated with cyberattacks and fake information.

What happened

During the meeting, after a discussion with Berkshire's insurance chief, Ajit Jain, CEO Greg Abel opened the floor to questions. A digital likeness of Warren Buffett, wearing his trademark suit and tie, appeared on screen. The deepfake Buffett introduced himself and asked why shareholders should hold their Berkshire shares for the long term. Abel then revealed that the questioner was a deepfake, created without any input from Warren Buffett, using publicly available information. Abel used the incident to emphasize the increasing threat of cyberattacks and misinformation to businesses like Berkshire Hathaway.