Meet Ernesto—the viral AGT contestant who doesn’t exist

“Ernesto,” a contestant framed as a heartbreaking performer on America’s Got Talent, went viral—only to be revealed as an AI-generated deepfake. His backstory, judges’ reactions, and even his appearance were fabricated by a YouTube channel using deepfake tech. Despite being debunked, the clip amassed over 50 million views, illustrating how convincingly AI can shape narratives and blur reality.

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