Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'Oei apologises after posting CNN deepfake video, vows to undertake AI training

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei has apologised after unknowingly posting an AI-generated deepfake video on his official X account, which falsely depicted CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria discussing Kenya’s role in peace diplomacy in Sudan.

In a statement on X, PS Sing'Oei acknowledged the mistake and addressed the backlash he faced on social media.

"I sincerely apologize for inadvertently posting an AI-generated video disguised as a genuine commentary from Fareed Zakaria of CNN on the search for peace in the Sudan conflict and Kenya’s role in it. I regret any confusion this may have caused and thank everyone who flagged the video as a deepfake," he stated.

He further announced that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is working on an initiative to address the challenges posed by AI-generated content.

"Our Ministry has been working with partners and tech companies to explore the potential of watermarking AI-generated content to ensure that such material does not pose as human-generated material."

Sing'Oei further revealed plans to launch an AI Diplomacy program at the Foreign Service Academy, aimed at equipping policymakers with the necessary skills to navigate AI-related challenges.

"Additionally, we are designing—with the collaboration of partners and big-tech companies—the School on AI Diplomacy (SAID) at the Foreign Services Academy—a program I will attend—to equip policymakers better to navigate these emerging challenges," he added.

The video quickly attracted criticism from Kenyans on X, who called out Sing’Oei for ostensibly misleading the public by using AI-generated media to promote a government narrative.