Topics: Artificial intelligence, Donald Trump, Health, News, Politics, Technology, US News, Social Media
US President Donald Trump has raised major concerns online after deleting an AI video promoting the 'medbed' conspiracy theory.
Over the weekend (27 September), the 79-year-old Republican, who is well-known for branding reports he doesn't like or agree with as 'fake news', posted a fake news clip that has reportedly been generated using artificial intelligence.
Several outlets, including Forbes, CNN and The Daily Beast, have reported on the severity of the situation, with CNN's Jake Tapper having since taken to Instagram to share with the public the contents of the clip, which featured an AI-generated Fox News segment hosted by the president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.
The clip in question shows an AI Trump discussing a 'historic new healthcare system' of 'medbeds' - something which is deeply rooted in conspiracy theories.
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The conspiracy theory, which became widespread in QAnon circles around 2019 to 2020, sees believers claim that after the 'Deep State' is defeated, secret technologies (including medbeds) will be released to the public.
'Medbeds', which is short for medical beds, are believed by such conspiracists to be advanced, futuristic healing devices which can instantly cure all diseases (including cancer and Alzheimer’s), reverse ageing or even regrow limbs, repair DNA or 'upgrade' the human body.
The conspiracy often includes claims that 'medbeds' are based on 'alien technology' or 'secret military programmes' allegedly hidden from the public.
It's important to note that there is no credible evidence that medbeds exist. No patents, no verified leaks, and no clinical studies back up such claims.
So, you can understand that when the President of the United States shared a fake news video championing the rolling out of 'medbeds', people were seriously confused.
"Every American will soon receive their own medbed card," the AI-generated version of Trump said in the video. "With it, you’ll have guaranteed access to our new hospitals led by the top doctors in the nation, equipped with the most advanced technology in the world.
"These facilities are safe, modern and designed to restore every citizen to full health and strength."
A message written across the start of the fake Fox News report read: "Medbed Hospitals: The New Era In Healthcare."
While the clip has now been deleted from Trump's Truth Social account, it had been up for around 12 hours before it disappeared from his profile, as per The Daily Beast.
Reacting to the ordeal, one social media user penned: "In case you missed the medbed thing from @realDonaldTrump, the internet saved it for you. A video was posted to his TS account, clearly fake A.I., of him announcing 'Med Beds' to the world. Then it was deleted. Go figure."
A second joked: "You know how I know it’s AI? Trump speaking in coherent sentences."
"He reposted it because he thought it was true. He doesn’t know what he or his administration is doing. This is a proof," declared a third while a fourth hit out: "But Biden had cognitive issues right?"
Another echoed: "I swear, I didn’t think things could get more weird…yet here we are."
And a final social media user echoed: "Things are getting so scary and strange."
Tyla has reached out to the White House for comment.
