I posted a link to a video purportedly by Yanis Varoufakis earlier today. I cautioned viewers that it might be fake, and a number of subscribers have confirmed it is.
Thanks for the prompt apology. At the moment, my suspicion that a video is the product of AI is predicated on the fluency of the speaker's delivery. They are always word perfect - i.e. no "um"s or "er"s; also, they never seem to pause for breath. Maybe AI will eventually (too soon) find a way to replicate that. Keep up the good work. Too many mainstream politicians, economists and journalists haven't cottoned on to what is happening in the global economy.
Right? It could happen to any known personality, it's a sad commentary when creators need to rip off actual peoples personas to make a buck, or as in this case drive a untrue commentary. I believe this channel and many others like "Asian guy" are disinformation being driven by who knows who simply to foment concern and fear. The mathematically certain collapse of the US dollar and the entire western fiat currency system is scary enough, without others trying to tip it over the edge...
Sir... no need to apologize IMHO. And, AI deepfakes will be even better and more difficult to find in a mere couple months. You too are now inside a lot of AI copycats on Youtube, and just look at the Chinese AI Jon AG. Don't know who's behind it but it's a very well organized group of people (IMHO again) and full of anyway interesting news. I know, it's flawed (maybe 95% correct?) but always realistic enough to doubt he (or it? or them?) is right.
It is an unfortunate turn of events within past 18 months and certainly from the scamdemic years , whereby the foundation of everything presented is now to be questioned. AI technology is driving 6 inch nails into whatever remnants of trust are left with anything we are not physically present beside and touching.
I saw it and thought it was real, so don’t beat yourself up. It was very realistic and I’ve watched hours of his content. Also, the content was completely believable & may be AI but I have an erie dread the content could come true in the not to distant future.
i got fooled as well its getting nearly IMPOSSIBLE to tell what is really happening out there , and i feel that it is a deliberate act to make everything VOLATILE therefore easier to divide deny and control
What alerted me to the fact of it being fake was that there was no shadow on the wall or bookshelf behind the figure. I also queried why he might have been invited to the "meeting". Why would they include him as he is not likely a member of that clique. Other than that it was well put together and plausible.
Thank you Alisdair, this one caught me out too, and I had forwarded to several people with the comment about the fragility of the monetary system. Although accurate in its general sentiment, as a deceptive fake it is worrisome. But to keep the message simple, one just has to minimize counterparty risk, meaning exposure to the banking system, and hold honest money, in your possession, and that means physical Gold, (and Silver). Happy New Year Alisdair.
Don’t feel bad….it took to Varoufakis himself more than 2 minutes to realize it wasn’t him… he was very surprised by the quality of the video and said that most of the things said there could have been said by him …it wasn’t till a specific reference was done that he realized that something was wrong….
All these YouTube channels with AI-style like “Asian Guy”, etc., seem to have come out of nowhere, in multiple languages. I took a quick look and they all appear to have been created in December 2025. Beyond the content itself, my question is: why? And who is behind them? Because it really looks like the same creator. War propaganda???
Thanks for the prompt apology. At the moment, my suspicion that a video is the product of AI is predicated on the fluency of the speaker's delivery. They are always word perfect - i.e. no "um"s or "er"s; also, they never seem to pause for breath. Maybe AI will eventually (too soon) find a way to replicate that. Keep up the good work. Too many mainstream politicians, economists and journalists haven't cottoned on to what is happening in the global economy.
It also sounds like it's reading a script, plus confusing "liv" and "live"..also minimal head movement that tends to be repetitive.
Good tip. Thanks 🙏
To err is human.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see an AI Alasdair soon!
There already is one
Right? It could happen to any known personality, it's a sad commentary when creators need to rip off actual peoples personas to make a buck, or as in this case drive a untrue commentary. I believe this channel and many others like "Asian guy" are disinformation being driven by who knows who simply to foment concern and fear. The mathematically certain collapse of the US dollar and the entire western fiat currency system is scary enough, without others trying to tip it over the edge...
Sir... no need to apologize IMHO. And, AI deepfakes will be even better and more difficult to find in a mere couple months. You too are now inside a lot of AI copycats on Youtube, and just look at the Chinese AI Jon AG. Don't know who's behind it but it's a very well organized group of people (IMHO again) and full of anyway interesting news. I know, it's flawed (maybe 95% correct?) but always realistic enough to doubt he (or it? or them?) is right.
Mr. Macleod - You provide us with so much input and value, it seems unnecessary to apologize.
Thank you for what you do. It has made an enormous difference for me in this chaotically uncertain world we share.
It is an unfortunate turn of events within past 18 months and certainly from the scamdemic years , whereby the foundation of everything presented is now to be questioned. AI technology is driving 6 inch nails into whatever remnants of trust are left with anything we are not physically present beside and touching.
Long gone the days of "a picture never lies"
Even pictures are unreliable. Who remembers this clever 1986 TV advert by "The Guardian"?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SsccRkLLzU
The girl leaning in the doorway is a young Kathy Burke!
ops accepted....There is SO much crap and con jobs, left and right
I have at least 5 x HERE..got a follow and Pmessage from..Alistair mcleod...reportet to Substack....
NEVER answer the....X x x x 3425795 OR their ..Telegram or other links....
I know of one case, where a guy " invested" in some crypto - 50 k usd...= GONE
I UNlike these a.i Utube videos.just to...fuck back
Also 90 % of ads on utube are con jobs, useless or showed 20 times....duh
just a waste of money....WHY + who is so DUM....never bought anything....
but clicking them costs advertizer 1-2-4 $....each time....so thats FUN....
Another way to detect AI is the way the bodies and faces repeat the same movements. I think Kier Starmer might be AI.
I saw it and thought it was real, so don’t beat yourself up. It was very realistic and I’ve watched hours of his content. Also, the content was completely believable & may be AI but I have an erie dread the content could come true in the not to distant future.
i got fooled as well its getting nearly IMPOSSIBLE to tell what is really happening out there , and i feel that it is a deliberate act to make everything VOLATILE therefore easier to divide deny and control
What alerted me to the fact of it being fake was that there was no shadow on the wall or bookshelf behind the figure. I also queried why he might have been invited to the "meeting". Why would they include him as he is not likely a member of that clique. Other than that it was well put together and plausible.
Thank you Alisdair, this one caught me out too, and I had forwarded to several people with the comment about the fragility of the monetary system. Although accurate in its general sentiment, as a deceptive fake it is worrisome. But to keep the message simple, one just has to minimize counterparty risk, meaning exposure to the banking system, and hold honest money, in your possession, and that means physical Gold, (and Silver). Happy New Year Alisdair.
A Perfect save. Macleod integrity intact. I really appreciate your pithy pronouncements.
Don’t feel bad….it took to Varoufakis himself more than 2 minutes to realize it wasn’t him… he was very surprised by the quality of the video and said that most of the things said there could have been said by him …it wasn’t till a specific reference was done that he realized that something was wrong….
Even allowing for the fakeness of the video, the interesting question remains: cui bono?
Bravo to you, Alasdair, for your truthfulness!
All these YouTube channels with AI-style like “Asian Guy”, etc., seem to have come out of nowhere, in multiple languages. I took a quick look and they all appear to have been created in December 2025. Beyond the content itself, my question is: why? And who is behind them? Because it really looks like the same creator. War propaganda???