A highly realistic, AI-generated spoof advertisement has recently captivated online audiences, depicting prominent tech figures Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Jeff Bezos in a dystopian future. The viral video, titled 'Energym,' portrays aged and significantly heavier versions of the billionaires as the architects of a grim new world where humans, displaced from their jobs by artificial intelligence, are forced onto stationary bikes and rowing machines to generate power for the very machines that rendered them obsolete. According to its creators, the Belgian creative video agency AiCandy, the ad's widespread appeal stems from its ability to resonate with two significant public anxieties surrounding AI: its potential to eliminate human employment and its substantial energy requirements. One of the co-founders, Jan De Loore, suggested that while the video is undeniably a jest, it contains a fundamental truth, reflecting a common sentiment that the most effective humor often carries a serious underlying message, as reported by Fortune.
The fictional 'Energym' enterprise, presented in a documentary-style format within the deepfake video, showcases the simulated tech moguls promoting their 'Matrix-style human battery' startup. In this grim future, the AI-generated Musk character ominously declares that by the year 2030, a staggering 80% of the global workforce would have lost their livelihoods. Complementing this bleak outlook, the AI-rendered Altman character observes that as individuals performed less physical labor, their desire to appear active paradoxically increased. This narrative skillfully weaves together contemporary fears about technological unemployment with the growing awareness of AI's immense computational and energy footprint, painting a stark picture of a society where human capital is literally converted into fuel for the machines that have supplanted it. The ad's narrative serves as a potent, albeit satirical, commentary on the potential societal costs of unchecked technological advancement.
The minds behind this provocative digital creation are Jan De Loore, 42, and his co-founder Hans Buyse, 52, who established their Belgium-based creative video agency, AiCandy, in 2025. De Loore elaborated on the strategic decision to feature Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Jeff Bezos prominently in the spoof. He explained that these particular individuals were chosen because, in his view, they represent the public 'face' of artificial intelligence and, more broadly, symbolize the profound societal shifts that AI is currently ushering in. De Loore further emphasized that the video's rapid dissemination was largely due to its direct engagement with the two primary concerns people harbor about AI: its capacity to displace human workers and its considerable energy demands, a point he reiterated in his comments to Fortune. The agency's deliberate choice of these high-profile figures amplifies the message, making the satire more pointed and relatable to the ongoing discourse surrounding AI's impact.
The release of the 'Energym' spoof arrives amidst a palpable increase in public apprehension regarding AI's potential impact on employment. While some academic research has offered a more nuanced perspective, casting doubt on a direct, macro-level correlation between AI adoption and productivity gains, recent developments have undeniably exacerbated public worries. Notably, industry leaders such as Block co-founder Jack Dorsey have reportedly linked significant workforce reductions, numbering in the thousands, to the increasing integration of 'intelligence tools' within their operations. Concurrently, a proliferation of 'doomer essays' and speculative articles warning of AI's capacity to replace humans in various white-collar professions has further intensified fears of widespread AI-induced unemployment. This climate of uncertainty provides fertile ground for the 'Energym' ad's message to resonate powerfully, transforming a satirical piece into a reflection of genuine societal anxieties and contributing to the broader conversation about AI's future trajectory.
In essence, the viral 'Energym' deepfake ad transcends mere entertainment, emerging as a significant cultural artifact that encapsulates and amplifies widespread societal anxieties concerning the future of artificial intelligence. Through its humorous yet unsettling depiction of tech billionaires overseeing a human-powered AI economy, the video successfully sparks critical dialogue about job displacement and the environmental footprint of advanced AI systems. The creators' assertion that every good joke contains an element of truth underscores the ad's role as a mirror reflecting contemporary fears. As AI continues its rapid development and integration across industries, the tensions between its transformative potential and its perceived threats to human labor and resources are likely to persist, making such satirical commentaries increasingly relevant in shaping public perception and debate.