Not my bag: Trump blames AI for viral video
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The rumour was not the only one Mr Donald Trump was forced to debunk on Sept 2, he also dismissed as “fake news” social media-driven rumours about his health.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Sept 2 blamed artificial intelligence (AI) for a viral video that appeared to show a black bag being thrown out of a White House window.
Mr Trump’s claim came despite US media earlier quoting a White House official as saying that a contractor had been disposing of rubbish during renovations.
“No, that’s probably AI-generated,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when a reporter asked about the video.
“Actually, you can’t open the windows. You know why, they’re all heavily armoured and bulletproof.”
Mr Trump asked the journalist, Peter Doocy of Fox News, to show him the video.
The brief clip that went viral over the weekend appears to show a black plastic bag being thrown out an open window on the second storey of the White House, where the private presidential residence is located.
After Mr Doocy approached the lectern and showed him, the 79-year-old said it was a “little bit scary” how realistic AI-generated videos could be.
But before Mr Trump was asked about it, US media including The New York Times quoted the White House press office as saying the video was real, although it showed nothing suspicious.
Instead it showed a contractor doing “regular maintenance” while Mr Trump was absent.
The internet rumour was not the only one Mr Trump was forced to debunk on Sept 2, he also dismissed as “fake news” a series of social media-driven rumours about his health, including that he might even be dead. AFP
