AI-Generated Fake LinkedIn Profile Of Startup Founder Gets Funding Offer In Just 24 Hours
In what is being seen by many as a signal of how dangerous AI technology can turn out to be, a LinkedIn profile of an entirely fictional startup founder generated by AI managed to bag a lucrative funding offer from a venture capitalist, and that too in just 24 hours.
In what is being seen by many as a signal of how dangerous AI technology can turn out to be, a LinkedIn profile of an entirely fictional startup founder generated by AI managed to bag a lucrative funding offer from a venture capitalist, and that too in just 24 hours.
Who Created The LinkedIn Profile
A New York-based entrepreneur named Roshan Patel, who is the CEO of Walnut, a health tech startup, created a LinkedIn profile for a fake founder using artificial intelligence.
linkedin
The founder was named Chad Smith, who claimed to be a Stanford University dropout and former employee of finance startup Stripe.
These details were enough to make investors fall hook, line, and sinker for ¡®Chad Smith¡¯. Patel revealed that within 24 hours he was inundated with funding offers, one of which was from a prestigious venture capital firm.
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Taking to Twitter, Patel shared a screenshot of the fake profile as well as the message he received from the investor.
I created a fake LinkedIn profile of a founder.
¡ª Roshan Patel (@roshanpateI) February 27, 2023
- AI-generated white male face
- Stripe alum
- Stanford dropout
- Going through YC
- "polymath"
Within 24 hours, I had a VC to reach out to invest. pic.twitter.com/6T5CzvBNeo
The messenger claims his co-workers had "great things to say" about Smith. "Hey Chad! I¡¯m an analyst for XXXX Ventures and saw you were starting your founder journey. A few ex-Stripe buddies of mine had great things to say about you, and I¡¯d love to connect to learn more about what you¡¯re building and share more about our fund," reads the screenshot.
The post has gone viral on the microblogging platform, with 11.6 million views and over 76K likes.
Also Read: ¡°I Go On Instagram Or LinkedIn To Speak To My Young Employees, Says Wipro CEO
¡°You Created The VC Profile Too¡±
Expressing doubts over the VC's funding offer, some Twitter users wanted to know if the message from the VC was also AI-generated. ¡°Find this hard to believe. You probably created the VC analyst profile as well,¡± joked another commented.
Find this hard to believe. You probably created the VC analyst profile as well.
¡ª Igwe (@Ssaasquatch) February 27, 2023
One person also mentioned the issue of racial bias in VC circles and how founders of colour still have to deal with microaggressions in their startup journey.
While the post gave many users a laugh, the dangers of AI technology, especially if it is used by unscrupulous people, are far from a laughing matter. The rise of artificial intelligence has also led to an abundance of fake and duplicate identities and several attempts at spreading false news.
Some Twitter Users Join The Laughs
Several Twitter users responded to the tweet with tongue-in-cheek replies. One wrote, ¡°I know a bunch of people who worked at Stripe, and NONE of them have anything good to say about Chad Smith.¡±
I know a bunch of people who worked at Stripe and NONE of them have anything good to say about Chad Smith.
¡ª Sunjeev Bery (@SunjeevBery) February 27, 2023
this is funny
¡ª Henrique Dubugras (@hdubugras) February 27, 2023
¡ª Jacquelyn Melinek (@jacqmelinek) February 27, 2023
Another user commented "Not surprising. Sounds like the "due diligence" VCs did when deciding to invest millions in FTX. One of them said that he invested because SBF could talk about crypto while playing a video game."
Not surprising ? Sounds like the "due diligence" VCs did when deciding to invest millions in FTX. One of them said that he invested because SBF could talk about crypto while playing a video game.
¡ª Anirvan Ghosh (@anirvanghosh) February 27, 2023
"Why Underrepresented Founders Not Getting Funding"
Arlan Hamilton, who is the founder of Backstage Capital, a venture capital fund, replied to the post ¡°And to think I got asked today why I¡¯m ¡°still¡± talking about this topic.¡±
And to think I got asked today why I¡¯m ¡°still¡± talking about this topic. https://t.co/CjgbySyDIG
¡ª Arlan ?? (@ArlanWasHere) February 28, 2023
She also attached her article¡± Why are underrepresented founders still not getting venture capital funding?¡±
Also Read: Top 25 Startups In India As Per 2022 LinkedIn List
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