AI-generated doctors are flooding social media with supplement ads

In short: Social media is filling up with ads that use AI-made or AI-cloned “doctors” to push unproven supplements and miracle cures, often targeting older women.

What's going on

The New York Times reports a fast-growing wave of health ads that feature doctors and wellness experts who are not real, or who are real people copied without permission. Some videos use AI to create a lifelike spokesperson from scratch. Others use “deepfakes” (a convincing fake video made by copying someone’s face and voice, like a digital impersonation).

These videos often look like friendly medical advice for menopause, weight loss, joint pain, memory, or “anti-aging.” Investigators say they commonly make specific promises such as rapid weight loss or curing chronic problems. Medical experts quoted in reporting say many of these claims do not match real evidence.

Research cited in the coverage found that out of 3,731 health-related ads from three supplement firms on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, 695, or 18.6%, featured AI-created fake doctors. Reporting also describes campaigns that use pressure tactics, like limited-time offers and links to unfamiliar websites, sometimes leading to subscription traps.

What to watch

More warnings and rule changes may follow. The American Medical Association has called deepfake doctors a threat to public health and is pushing platforms to act faster.

For viewers, the key is basic skepticism. Watch for odd lip syncing, flat voices, and too-perfect promises, and try to verify the person outside the platform before buying or changing any treatment.

Source: NYTimes