In a startling demonstration of the deceptive power of deepfakes, a counterfeit livestream of Nvidia’s GTC keynote attracted a staggering 120,000 live viewers, five times more than the authentic event. The fraudulent stream, featuring an AI-generated version of Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, endorsing a cryptocurrency scheme, was broadcast simultaneously with the real event and even outperformed it on YouTube, underscoring the potential for AI hoaxes to exploit tech enthusiasts during high-profile events like the GTC conference.
The Fake Livestream’s Deception
The deceptive livestream showcased an AI-generated version of Jensen Huang, meticulously mimicking his appearance and speech patterns. This deepfake Huang was seen endorsing a cryptocurrency scheme, a ploy designed to coincide with the actual timing of Nvidia’s GTC keynote. The counterfeit video was hosted on YouTube, where it managed to amass an impressive 100,000 viewers, thanks to algorithmic promotion that placed it above the official Nvidia GTC event. This scam began gaining traction on 2025-10-28, just before the real keynote.
Viewership Disparity with the Real Event
The fake stream’s viewership was significantly higher than that of the real Nvidia GTC keynote, drawing 120,000 live viewers compared to the authentic event’s much smaller audience. This resulted in a fivefold viewership advantage for the hoax. The fact that more people watched the fake Nvidia livestream than the real thing was reported in the wake of the GTC incident on 2025-10-29. The promotional edge on YouTube, where the AI-generated hoax was elevated over Nvidia’s legitimate stream, contributed significantly to its higher engagement.
Elements of the Crypto Scam
The core scam in the fake stream involved the deepfake Jensen Huang actively promoting a specific cryptocurrency investment, misleading viewers into financial participation. The deceptive tactics used in the AI-generated content were designed to build credibility, tying it directly to the GTC keynote’s theme of AI and tech advancements. The scam spread rapidly on 2025-10-29, capitalizing on real-time interest in Nvidia’s announcements.
Nvidia’s Official GTC Keynote
The real Nvidia GTC keynote, a major industry event focused on AI and graphics technology, was unfortunately overshadowed by the simultaneous fake broadcast. Despite the lower viewership, the official stream maintained authenticity through Nvidia’s verified channels. This incident is reminiscent of Nvidia’s earlier CES 2025 keynote livestream scheduled for 2025-01-06, which offered a legitimate viewing option via official platforms.
AI Deepfakes and Platform Vulnerabilities
The technical aspects of the deepfake technology used to create the Jensen Huang impersonation enabled the crypto-promoting narrative in the fake GTC stream. YouTube’s role in amplifying the hoax is noteworthy, as its algorithms on 2025-10-28 prioritized the scam video over Nvidia’s real content. This incident underscores the implications for live event streaming, where AI hoaxes like this one can gain 5x more views than verified broadcasts.
Broader Risks of Misinformation Spread
Audience susceptibility to such scams is a significant concern. A 2019 study found that older people are more likely to share fake news on Facebook, potentially paralleling the deepfake’s appeal. The success of the fake Nvidia stream on 2025-10-29 highlights ongoing challenges in detecting AI-generated scams during tech conferences. This incident underscores the need for preventive measures for platforms and users to verify streams, drawing attention to the dangers posed by deepfakes.
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