Misinformation has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, especially with rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) making it easier to create convincing fake content. Highlighting this concern in a witty manner, Bengaluru-based founder and CEO Deepak Kanakaraju shared a viral LinkedIn post featuring a digitally generated “selfie” with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and a fabricated quote attributed to him.
The post was Kanakaraju’s attempt to demonstrate how easily AI tools can be misused to spread false narratives, fake news, or misleading visuals, especially on social media platforms where content can travel rapidly.
The viral post
“Just had a casual meeting with Elon,” Kanakaraju wrote in his post, alongside the AI-generated image. He followed it with a quote supposedly from Musk: “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.”
The post quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion about the increasing sophistication of AI technologies and their potential misuse.
Social media reactions
Many LinkedIn users and professionals engaged with the post, noting that Kanakaraju had effectively illustrated the dangers of misinformation.
One user commented: “This is the scary truth. With every AI upgrade, it is getting more sophisticated. It feels that now we will know the news before it actually happens.”
Another added: “AI’s biggest risk might be misinformation, not job loss. Truth and trust are more crucial than ever.”
Several others pointed out how India is particularly vulnerable to such risks, with misinformation already spreading rapidly through messaging platforms. “Absolutely true! In India, we already see how quickly WhatsApp forwards and fake news spread. With AI, the speed and scale will be 100x more. The real challenge is not just technology but teaching people how to verify before believing and sharing,” a user remarked.
A fourth comment highlighted the importance of fact-checking: “The misinformation risk with AI is massive; fact-checking has never been more important.”
Who is Deepak Kanakaraju?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Deepak Kanakaraju is an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience. He graduated in 2008 with an engineering degree from Anna University, Chennai, and immediately began his entrepreneurial journey by founding a business that ran successfully for over four years.
He later transitioned into corporate roles before launching new ventures in 2021 and 2024, both of which are still operational. He currently serves as the CEO of one of his startups.
Misinformation and AI: a growing challenge
Experts warn that the ease with which AI can generate realistic photos, videos, and text makes it increasingly difficult for ordinary users to distinguish fact from fiction. With deepfakes, fabricated quotes, and manipulated content becoming widespread, the risks extend beyond personal reputation damage to serious threats to democracy, public safety, and trust in media.
While technology companies and regulators are working on detection mechanisms, the consensus among experts is that digital literacy and awareness remain the most effective safeguards. Educating people to pause, verify, and fact-check information before sharing it is seen as crucial in curbing the spread of misinformation.
Conclusion
Deepak Kanakaraju’s post may have been humorous in intent, but it underscored a serious issue—how AI can be both a tool for innovation and a weapon for misinformation. As the technology becomes more advanced, the responsibility to use it ethically and to foster awareness will be key to protecting truth and trust in the digital era.