Jake Paul responds to viral AI videos depicting him coming out as gay

Jake Paul has responded to the viral AI deepfake videos which falsely depict him 'coming out as gay'.

For those who have no idea what we're talking about, the influencer and boxer, 28, has found himself at the centre of a bizarre AI hoax.

Deepfake videos and photos have been circulating online that show Paul telling his fans he's gay, as well as others showing him in front of Pride flag, applying makeup, and in a pink ballet costume.

If you're not familiar with the term, a deepfake is a video or picture of a face, body, or voice that has been digitally altered so that they appear to be someone else, typically used maliciously or to spread false information.

The technology allows a description of physical characteristics to conjure up a totally fictionalised image. Or, facial recognition algorithms and artificial neural networks can be used to recreate an image of a real person, and can see them placed into fictional scenarios.

They are made with artificial intelligence to look real and the deepfakes in question have an extreme likeness to Paul, leading some fans to think the videos are real when stumbling across them.

In one AI video, the YouTuber is portrayed as saying: "I'm gay and I'm proud of it," before showing off a pair of rainbow boxing gloves.

And now, as more and more of these AI posts are popping up, Paul has decided to address the situation on his own TikTok account.

However, his reaction has prompted a mixed response from followers.

He shared a video where he says: "It’s honestly not even a joke,” but as per Pink News, he jokingly continued speaking 'in a camp tone' when a friend asks him if he wanted a Celsius drink.

In the caption, Paul added: "AI is getting out of hand."

And in a second video poking fun at the strange trend, he filmed himself asking his fiancée Jutta Leerdam what she makes of the deepfakes.

He wrote: "These AI videos are making Jutta mad", and in the clip, Jutta is heard sayng: "I don’t like it, it’s not funny," before insisting that 'people believe it'.

In the comments of both videos, social media users have expressed their shock that the videos were AI, penning: "Wait so that was AI?" and, "Wait so it wasn't real..."

While a third added: "At least [he] can take a joke" and a fourth penned: "He took the only viable option and went with it!!"

Someone else wrote: "I honestly thought it was true. You need to [be] sure."

And others chimed in with: "AI is getting too realistic" and "Yo this was crazy!! I thought he really came out for a second!!"

"Yo the AI terrifying lowkey why is it so realistic," quipped another shocked follower.

Another added: "Omg I acc believed it all I saw it yesterday."