When someone says “MacGyver” what do you think of? Most picture the opening sequence of the original TV series – the music, the montage, the mullet. Over the years countless fans have remade the MacGyver opening with themselves as the subject… but today parodies have evolved. With AI quickly becoming more common, and celebrity deepfakes getting eerily close to realism, people have mixed views on how this will continue to affect the digital landscape. Currently, a particular MacGyver deepfake has made its way into politics.
Before we get to the deepfake, here are a few of our favorite homemade parodies, made with human intelligence:
- MacGyver opening sequence parody by Alex Ramirès:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7BErjIBtit/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== - MacGyver opening sequence parody by Stephan Bakun: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc7oyb
- MacGyver opening sequence parody by SamSoloFilms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmBzUkl7tV4&t=49s
With the rise of AI, it makes it easier to edit your face into videos or take the place of celebrities in photos. Earlier this year an account that goes by “Very.Funnai” used artificial intelligence to create a deep fake of the President of France – Emmanuel Macron – as MacGyver. In fact, various AI videos of Macron inserted into pop culture media have been circulating on French social media for the past few months. Something that has become more common in US politics as well.
In a video posted on his social media accounts, the 47-year-old president reacts to a montage of deepfaked videos of himself in different films, TV series, and genders – saying “nicely done.” The montage of deepfakes has already received millions of views across the president’s Instagram, X and TikTok accounts. The clip ends with one of the most famous parodies where Macron is depicted as the television action hero MacGyver. “There, that’s definitely me,” quipped Macron.
The reason behind his post was to promote the AI Action Summit in Paris. Macron says: “It’s pretty well done, it made me laugh. But more seriously, with artificial intelligence, we can do some very big things: change healthcare, energy, life in our society.”
The aim of the summit is to unite world leaders, tech executives, and academics to examine AI’s impact on society, governance, and the environment.
Here’s what people are saying online about the AI MacGyver Deepfake:
- “Super well done…..you might think that Macron went to my hairdresser.”
- “Best argument ever to vote for Macron.”
- “Sacrilege”
- “He picked a great role-model, but stole the good looks of RDA… No, just No”
- “It’s done with AI, because the face is not that of Emmanuel but a good mix between him and Dean Anderson. I admit that the mix is not bad…”
- “Super funny, I’m laughing. Very nice montage “
- “What software please?”
- I can’t stand AI in politics anymore“
- “Why give so much honor to [Macron]? Because the worst thing is that he takes it at face value, he believes it. He really thinks he’s a superhero.”
- “I was dying of laughter the whole time even though it’s not worthy…”
- “I don’t see him as MacGyver at all”
- “Super funny and well done hats off to the creator!”
What do you think? Watch the full MacGyver deepfake video here.
MacGyver seems to be a hot topic in France lately – Last month we highlighted a couple ultimate-MacGyver fans in France and this month Mac has worked his way into politics, travel, and celebrity culture. What’s next? Check out more news in the world of MacGyver!