Topics: Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Politics, Social Media, US News, Artificial Intelligence
Melania Trump has dropped a bizarre AI video which has sparked a wild conspiracy theory.
The First Lady rarely makes public appearances, appearing quite elusive in politics and around the White House compared to her husband.
Yet when she does speak out, it's often to talk about protecting children in our AI-driven world.
Most recently, the 55-year-old former model delivered a bewildering speech from the White House last month, telling the crowd that 'robots are here' while stressing the importance of safeguarding America's children in the advancing technological age.
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Melania said: "Our future is no longer science fiction. During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children – empowering, but with watchful guidance."
Now, the mom-of-one has reignited a bizarre conspiracy theory - that she will soon be replaced by AI.
The theory that Melania is often replaced by a body double is nothing new, as speculation first emerged that a suspicious look-alike was being used in her place as far back as 2017.
Supporters of the theory allege her 'copy' can be spotted through notable physical differences, from facial features and bodily dimensions down to the supposed 'suspicious' behaviour that the 'real' Melania wouldn't do.
While President Trump has waved away the hypothesis as 'fake news', Melania herself has appeared to add fuel to the fire by recently posting a clip of herself on social media.
In the 10-second footage, Melania appears in what looks like Trump Tower in the form of a hologram while she penned in the caption: 'Into the future'.
Through a sparkle of pixels, the computer-generated version appears to share a strong likeness to her, donning her classic navy trench coat and signature style.
The character doesn't speak, but simply corrects her posture while staring blankly at the camera, which rather ominously zooms in.
With little to no other context, people say they have been left disturbed by the clip - and confused to say the least.
Over on Twitter, one said: "Melania posted this AI version of herself to sell her crypto. AI Melania speaks 738 languages, has perfect skin and is available for children's birthday parties and auto shows, but still no appearances with Donald, because unlike IRL Melania, AI has standards."
Others were also left scratching their heads with the footage, as another wrote: "Sure are showing us a lot of hologram stuff. What she trying to tell us?"
"Are we gonna get teleportation?!?" asked a second.
A third wrote: "Melania Trump has sparked speculation she will send a hologram to future public appearances after she posted an Al-generated video of herself."
Melania isn't the only one to be trying her hand at AI either, as President Trump has been utilising the tool to spread his own messages.
The POTUS recently posted an AI-generated version of himself discussing a so-called 'medbed card' that was mysteriously deleted 12 hours later.
Trump also used an AI image of himself, imagining him as the protagonist out of the movie Apocalypse Now, to 'threaten' Chicago with 'war' just last month.
