Bengaluru Founder's Fake Elon Musk Photo Exposes AI Misinformation Risks

On August 26th, 2025, a Bengaluru-based founder named Deepak Kanakaraju shared an AI-generated image of himself in a "casual meeting" with tech billionaire Elon Musk on LinkedIn. The post quickly went viral, sparking discussions about the growing threat of AI-powered misinformation.

At first glance, the image appeared to be a proud networking moment for Kanakaraju. However, the twist was in the caption. Kanakaraju had intentionally created the image using AI technology to raise awareness about the ease with which fake content can be generated and spread online.

The post included a quote attributed to Musk, which read: "The real danger of AI isn't robots taking jobs. It's how easily fake news will spread. Imagine someone posting a random photo with me and pretending I said something profound." This quote, while seemingly profound, was entirely fabricated as part of Kanakaraju's demonstration.

The post has become an example of how technology can both build and break trust with a single click. While some users found the post witty and insightful, others were unsettled by the realistic nature of the AI-generated image, highlighting the growing challenge of protecting truth in an age of effortless misinformation.