Nvidia’s GPU Technology Conference (GTC) this year hasn’t generated much excitement among gamers or PC hardware enthusiasts. The event appears to be focused primarily on advancing hardware for AI and data centers, leaving traditional gaming audiences less engaged.
Ironically, amidst the real conference, a fake version of the keynote livestream surfaced—one that reportedly used generative AI to create a deepfake of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. This counterfeit livestream directed viewers to a cryptocurrency scam.
A YouTube channel named “NVIDIA LIVE” started streaming shortly after the official Nvidia event began. Twitter users quickly noticed that the video was a deepfake, showing CEO Huang promoting a so-called “crypto mass adoption event.” During the fake stream, a QR code appeared on screen, linking to a website that claimed it could double any cryptocurrency sent to it. Instead of simply stealing the funds, the scam promised to “convert” cryptocurrencies into Bitcoin and return them with a profit—a scheme almost certainly designed to steal viewers’ crypto assets.
Tom’s Hardware quoted the fake Huang saying:
“We’re postponing the main talk for just a moment to announce something truly special, a crypto mass adoption event that ties directly into Nvidia’s mission to accelerate human progress.”
The speech-to-text transcript of the deepfake video was filled with typical “cryptobro” buzzwords and elaborate claims, all revolving around this fake giveaway. The idea that Nvidia would hand out billions of dollars to anonymous strangers with no clear reason other than “human progress” strains credulity. Even if someone couldn’t detect the deepfake audio or video, they’d have to be seriously misguided not to see through the ruse.
At its peak, the fake livestream reportedly attracted nearly 100,000 viewers—more than eight times the audience of the real Nvidia livestream. This was partly due to the fake stream ranking higher in YouTube search results during the actual keynote.
It remains unclear exactly how many people fell victim to the scam. The fraudulent video has since been removed, though the low-profile YouTube user who hosted it still appears to be active.
This incident serves as a reminder to remain vigilant when watching livestreams and to verify sources carefully, especially during major events. Deepfake technology continues to improve, and scammers are increasingly leveraging it for malicious purposes.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2956180/a-deepfake-video-of-nvidias-ceo-sent-viewers-to-a-crypto-scam.html