Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
President Joe Biden says a magical pistachio helped him at a grocery store.
Fact
No such remarks by the POTUS, the video is a deepfake.
Ahead of the US Presidential Polls, a video of President Joe Biden purportedly narrating an anecdote about a “magical pistachio” helping him find his way out of a grocery store has surfaced online. Newschecker, however, found the video to be a deepfake.
In the 28-second-long video, Biden can be purportedly heard saying, “Have I ever told you the story of the magical pistachio? I got lost in the grocery store and couldn’t find my way out. But that’s when I saw it, a glowing pistachio. It spoke to me and said follow me and I’ll lead you to safety so I followed it. “
“And we climbed up shelves and found a secret passage that led me to the bread aisle. And that’s how I found my way out of the grocery store. All thanks to the magical pistachio. So if you ever get lost, just remember, all you need is a little faith and a magical pistachio to guide you to safety,” he is heard saying.
Newschecker received the video on our WhatsApp tiple (+91-9999499044) requesting to be fact checked.
The full video can be seen below
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Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of video led us to a report by MSNBC, dated December 23, 2022. Carrying similar footage of the POTUS, the report stated, “President Biden delivered a Christmas address from the White House ahead of the holiday weekend hoped to spread a message of “kindness and compassion” to Americans.”
On comparing the keyframes of the viral footage with the MSNCB video, we found the visuals to be identical – except for the ticker at the bottom of the screen.
We then analysed President Biden Christmas address as featured in the MSNCB report, however, did not find any mention of “magical pistachios.”
The transcript of Joe Biden’s 2022 Christmas address, as listed in the White House website, does not mention any comments on “magical pistachios” as well.
Furthermore, we did not find any credible reports stating that such a story was narrated by Biden.
Also Read: No, Christians Did Not Convert Tamil Nadu Temple Into Church, Viral Claim Is False
On carefully analysing the purported footage of President Biden talking about a magical pistachio, we noticed that the audio was rather flat, and without any pitch variation.
We then looked up the footage on Hive Moderation, an AI detection tool, which stated that the input is 99.8% likely to contain AI-generated or deepfake content.
Another detection tool, TrueMedia also found “substantial evidence of manipulation” in the video. Its analysis yielded with “100% confidence” that the audio was generated using AI, and found substantial evidence (100% confidence) of face manipulation.
AI audio detection tool, Resemble.ai, also categorised the audio heard in Biden’s footage as “fake.”
The AI speech classifier of the Eleven Labs found a 98% probability that the audio was generated using their product.
We also found the video on the YouTube channel Marshall Artist, who makes “Minecraft videos, music parodies, and deepfake videos.”
The Biden video was uploaded on the channel in March 2023, clearly stating “Not real. Made with AI”
We found multiple other AI-generated videos on Biden on the YouTube channel in the same background as seen in the viral footage. Such videos can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Video From Mathura Shared As Recent Stampede In Hathras
Conclusion
Hence, the viral video of US President Joe Biden talking about magical pistachio is a deepfake.
Result: Altered Video
Sources
Report By MSNBC, Dated December 23, 2022
Release By The White House, Dated December 22, 2022
Hive Moderation Website
TrueMedia Website
Resemble.ai
Eleven Labs Website
YouTube Video By Marshall Artist, Dated March 2, 2023
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
