In a stark warning about the growing threat of deepfake technology, UAE officials have highlighted the potential dangers of manipulated videos, which are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality. Speaking at Gitex Global 2025, Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, emphasized the global scale of this challenge. He shared an anecdote about a dinner conversation where attendees debated whether to adopt a cat after watching a deepfake video of a cat fending off a bear. Al Olama warned that such deceptive content could influence critical decisions, from voting in elections to sharing sensitive information. Meanwhile, Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, cautioned residents and investors against trusting social media videos falsely depicting him endorsing specific investments. He clarified that such videos are deepfakes and urged the public to remain vigilant. Both ministers stressed the need for global collaboration to address the issue, including the implementation of watermarks to identify deepfake content. Al Olama also highlighted the importance of upskilling the public and fostering a global dialogue to combat the misuse of AI technology.
Cats fighting bear, fake investments: UAE officials warn deepfake videos can trick anyone
