A viral video allegedly showing Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu relaxing at a cafe has sparked debate online after claims surfaced that the footage may have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
The clip, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, depicts Netanyahu appearing to discuss military operations involving Iran and Lebanon while seated in what looks like a coffee shop setting.
However, questions about the authenticity of the footage soon emerged after several viewers pointed out unusual visual details that appeared inconsistent with a genuine recording.
According to reports by Hindustan Times, suspicions intensified when Grok – the chatbot integrated into the social media platform X owned by entrepreneur Elon Musk – responded to a user inquiry by stating that the video was “100 per cent deepfake”.
The chatbot reportedly claimed the footage was entirely generated using AI technology and that no verified event matching the scene had ever been recorded or reported.
It also suggested that the original upload itself described the clip as a demonstration of advanced AI capabilities.
Further analysis by social media users highlighted several visual anomalies that are often associated with AI-generated videos.
Among the irregularities cited were the foam on a cup of coffee that appeared unusually motionless and sections of clothing that seemed to shift abruptly between frames.
In addition, viewers noticed inconsistencies in the café background, where certain elements – including the digital display on a cash register – appeared sharply defined while other parts of the image looked noticeably softer.
These inconsistencies led some users to theorise that the clip may have been created using AI tools trained on previous footage of Netanyahu.
Others suggested the material may have been derived from an authentic video recorded during the Israeli leader’s visit to a cafe in 2024.
The viral clip surfaced at the same time as unverified rumours circulated online claiming that Netanyahu had been targeted in an assassination attempt following recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Some reports even alleged that Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, had been killed during the attacks.
Separate viral posts also claimed that Netanyahu’s brother, Iddo Netanyahu, and Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had died in an airstrike.
Those claims were later dismissed, with reports confirming that both men remain safe.
Updates from Netanyahu’s official social media accounts and statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office indicate that the 76-year-old leader remains in Tel Aviv amid the ongoing tensions involving Iran.
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
