This story is alarming to me on so many levels that I am not exactly sure how to unravel it. So bear with me as I wend my way through this ultra-modern tale of identity theft, manipulation and deceit — and also confess to my own susceptibility. 

Let’s first understand that there really is an interstellar object called 3I/Atlas that zoomed into our cosmic neighborhood from way outside our galaxy and is now headed back towards the outer solar system. Apparently, however, that’s all the public really knows at this point.  But because of its unique behavior and composition, speculation rose early on whether it was a natural object, like a comet, or not. It is within this swirling vortex of doubt that all sorts of speculation arose and these fake videos were spawned.

The most farfetched idea — and admittedly the one that got my attention — was that 3I/Atlas was some sort of stellar messenger warning the inhabitants of earth that, unless they begin acting with wisdom and compassion, they would become isolated from the cosmic community and fall into complete decline, wherein any trace of earthly civilization will be eradicated. This idea was falsely presented by a Kaku-Avatar as reflecting his actual position.

Now the truth is I don’t think we need to create an elaborate fantasy and pin it on a “comet” (if that’s what it finally proves to be) to inform us that humanity needs to take bold action to avoid any number of calamites that may befall it — from atomic annihilation to climate change to political upheavals and, more recently, to the usurpation of human intelligence by AI.  In fact, all you need do is check the Doomsday Clock from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists right here on earth to get the same urgent message.

But — for profit and perhaps their own twisted amusement — that is exactly what these AI hoaxsters did. They stole the persona of Dr. Kaku and through digital trickery fabricated a complete fantasy. A fantasy that, although fantastic, is potentially believable because of today’s existential realities. Impersonation is a serious crime that in any other venue can carry with it substantial penalties. Yet in the online ecosystem it hasn’t deterred perpetrators of this fraud, to which in this instance I also feel victimized.

The average person does not have the specialized knowledge to analyze sophisticated  mathematical data and evaluate other scientific criteria. We need experts like Kaku and Loeb to help us understand. The hoaxsters took advantage of this learning gap, stealing the identities of acknowledged experts to fool the public.

I was ensnared by my own willingness-to-believe. But I find some consolation in holding this up as a perfect illustration of maya, the Sanskrit word that means “illusion” or “dream.’ It shows how we can all become victims of our own illusions and why AI represents such a danger to humanity.

What is truth and what is falsity?  There is perhaps no bigger question. And I venture to say there never was.  But today, largely because of AI, the lines are becoming more and more blurred. In the musical The Further Shores of Knowing we touch upon this question because it is vital to our well-being and survival. If we don’t orient to truth, which in our musical is represented by the Polestar, where are we headed?

“AI has infiltrated our world,” as one of my colleagues put it. Now more than ever we need to question the information that comes before us. It is sad and disheartening — but what else can we do but set our spam filters on high alert, knowing there are malicious individuals ready to employ advanced digital tools and techniques to take advantage of our need to believe and understand our place in the world.

Our goal is to entertain and enlighten. The last thing I want to spread is disinformation. It is everyone’s obligation to call lies out when they see it and, if necessary, accept their inadvertent complicity. It’s the only way truth will have a fighting chance. I hope with this writing Dr. Kaku accepts my sincere apologies for not being more discerning.  And I hope YouTube will make a serious effort to remove intentionally misleading posts from its platform.