Here’s a video highlight from YouTube that directly addresses this:
Are these videos about Ibrahim Traoré real or AI-generated?
They are almost certainly AI-generated deepfakes, not genuine footage.
Evidence at a glance:
- Deepfake examples featuring celebrities: Videos that show Ibrahim Traoré alongside figures like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, or R. Kelly have been widely debunked as artificially generated deepfakes www.france24.comfr.wikipedia.orgwww.thetimes.co.uk.
- Disinformation campaigns noted: These AI-generated videos often inflate Traoré’s status—portraying him as a heroic, pan-African figure—and are part of a broader online media push to shape public perception fr.wikipedia.orgwww.thetimes.co.ukwww.france24.com.
- Tracked deepfake incidents: A specific video, shared around 25 May 2025, claimed to show Traoré delivering a speech criticizing Western exploitation. It was confirmed to be an AI-generated deepfake, flagged in the AI Incident Database as part of a cluster of disinformation dating back to March through at least May 2025 incidentdatabase.ai.
- Media investigations: Outlets and sources like France24 and news analyses explain that these viral videos—featuring AI-altered clips of Traoré—are generated to boost his personality cult and are often tied to orchestrated campaigns to stoke anti-Western sentiment www.france24.comwww.thetimes.co.uk.
- Technical clues in visual behavior: Some posts highlight telltale signs such as unnatural mouth movements or visual inconsistencies indicative of deepfake technology www.facebook.com.
Summary
All current credible evidence indicates that the viral videos about Ibrahim Traoré—especially those featuring him interacting with global celebrities or delivering impassioned speeches—are AI-generated deepfakes. These have been circulated as part of a disinformation campaign, not as authentic media coverage.