An AI-generated video of Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is stirring a storm in the southern African country.

The video, produced using President Netumbo image and her purported voice promoting an investment scheme, has been widely circulated on social media.

However, Namibia’s government has described the video as “fake” and expressed “concern” over its implications.

In a statement, the Namibian presidency said President Netumbo “has no connection whatsoever” to the alleged investment programme known as “Namibia Money AI.”

“We wish to make it clear that this video is fraudulent and has been artificially generated using AI technology (deepfake) to imitate the President’s image and voice,” read the that was released earlier this week.

‘Exploit President’s image’

According to the government, the video was “malicious” and the aim was to “exploit the President’s image, and mislead the public for financial gain.”

It’s not immediately clear who created the video, and the authorities have not said whether they have arrested any individuals or identified a group in connection with the scam video.

The incident in Namibia raises questions about the regulation of AI-generated content, which the Namibian president highlighted in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.

“Artificial intelligence must not be a substitute for human judgment or responsibility. We, therefore, call for a global standard that ensures that the usage of artificial intelligence remains transparent (and) fair for humanity,” President Netumbo said in her speech at the UN.

Misuse of AI

The advent of AI, a revolutionary technology, has changed human life dramatically in many positive ways, enhancing development.

But some people worldwide misuse it to fake high-profile individuals for ridicule and fraud, as well as disinformation and misinformation.

This often sparks intense debates among experts and ordinary people.