KARACHI: A social media report claiming the death of Pakistani actor and television host Imran Ashraf has been debunked after the actor himself appeared online and confirmed that he is safe and well.
An AI-generated video claiming that Ashraf had passed away circulated widely on social media, sparking concern among his fans. The fabricated report was presented in the style of a news bulletin, making it difficult for some viewers to immediately identify it as false.
Ashraf tried to clear the doubts about his death through his Instagram account stating that he was alive and in good condition. He also requested his fans to pray for him.
The viral video was apparently uploaded by a TikTok page that uploads videos created using AI. Other videos on the account allegedly feature prominent journalists, cricketers and actors appearing to offer condolences over Ashraf’s purported death.
The incident has once again brought out many fears over the increasing use of artificial intelligence to create news about celebrities that is false.
As AI videos become more advanced, social media users are being called upon to ensure that any sensational news they receive is verified against reliable sources.
