Kalshi Admits Using AI to Create Deepfakes of Influencers' Videos and Change Their Race
Kalshification: Kalshi has been caught using AI to create deepfakes of real influencers' videos for advertising purposes, altering their race in the process. This comes as public backlash against AI-generated content continues to grow.
By Victor Tangermann
Published Sep 24, 2026 3:49 PM EDT
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Elliott Choy via YouTube: [Link to video]
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As companies cut costs by relying on AI for advertising, some are pushing the boundaries by creating deepfakes of influencer videos. Sleazy gambling and insider trading platform Kalshi is under fire for using a real tech YouTuber's video as an ad, transforming the Asian-American creator into a white person who doesn't exist.
This incident follows a similar case where Stanford University was caught using AI to swap out a student in a photo with a non-existent Black woman. Ironically, the YouTuber, Elliott Choy, has been promoting AI company Anthropic's Claude assistant.
The original video Kalshi used was uploaded in September 2025, showcasing Choy moving into a new apartment in New York City. NPR correspondent Bobby Allyn confirmed the authenticity of the offensive ad, with a Kalshi representative stating it's "old" and they are reviewing their relationship with the agency responsible.
Many questions remain, including which agency Kalshi contracted for the ad, how many influencers' content was ripped off, and if the company plans to rectify the situation with affected parties.
This trend gained attention in July 2025 when TikTok videos used deepfake technology to clone existing user-generated content, accumulating tens of millions of views. However, most were created by scammers, not mainstream companies like Kalshi.
Kalshi has been experimenting with generative AI for marketing purposes for some time, including an AI ad for the NBA Finals last year claimed to cost only $2,000—but its effectiveness is debatable.