Warren Buffett is warning viewers to watch out for impostors. And surprise, surprise, AI is involved.
American multinational Berkshire Hathaway says a series of AI-generated videos spreading on YouTube falsely depict its 95-year-old chief executive, using his likeness and voice to push fake investment messages.
The company said in a brief statement that Buffett is “deeply concerned” about the surge of AI impersonations and plans to address the issue publicly in the coming days.
A growing ‘virus’ online
In a statement titled “It’s Not Me,” the company warned that AI-generated videos circulating may look like Buffett, but the voice gives them away.
The imitation, described as “flat” and “monotone,” has become a telltale sign of forgery, Berkshire said. The company fears that people unfamiliar with Buffett could mistake the fakes for genuine commentary and be misled by their content.
Calling the phenomenon a “spreading virus,” Berkshire urged viewers to verify any supposed messages from Buffett through official channels. The company added that the real Buffett will deliver an authentic statement on November 10, addressing philanthropy, Berkshire updates, and other topics of public interest.
Fake faces, real victims
Buffett’s warning reflects a growing wave of AI-driven deception reaching far beyond boardrooms. Recently, a Florida judge was targeted in a chilling deepfake video that depicted her own murder in the style of a violent video game, a digitally animated attacker, and a voiceover that called her by name.
In August, a woman lost $431,000 after falling for a scam featuring a deepfaked version of a popular soap opera actor, whose AI-generated likeness was used to build trust before draining her savings.
In January, a 53-year-old French woman was conned out of $800,000 by someone posing as actor Brad Pitt. It’s a scheme powered by fake images, voice clips, and messages convincing enough to sustain months of communication.
The victims differ, but the pattern is the same: AI tools are turning impersonation into an industry.
AI scams are rising — and so is public alarm
Americans are growing uneasy about just how real digital deception has become. According to Alloy’s 2025 State of Scams Report, 85% of US consumers believe AI has made scams harder to detect.
At the same time, people are demanding stronger defenses. Two-thirds said they’re more likely to trust banks and institutions that use AI-driven tools to detect and block fraud attempts before they spread. Nearly all ranked security as the single most important factor when choosing a financial service.
What began as clever mimicry is fast becoming a credibility crisis, and Buffett’s voice — the real one — may be among the few still trusted to say so.
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