AI chief technology officer accused of creating deepfakes of friends and children

SANDY — The co-founder of a Salt Lake County artificial intelligence company has been arrested and accused of creating deepfakes using pictures of friends from high school and of children.

Burke Clark Powers, 48, of Sandy, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The investigation began when Powers' ex-wife "came across AI-generated child sexual abuse material and pornography … (on) Powers' computer and Google Drive," a police booking affidavit states. "The (woman) stated that it appears that Burke had been scanning yearbook photos into the program that he was using."

The woman reported her discovery to the FBI National Threat Operations Center and "provided law enforcement with a copy of the numerous folders from the Google Drive account," according to the affidavit.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Powers' Google Drive account and "found a large quantity of AI generated images and videos, including adult pornography and child sex abuse material," the affidavit states. "There were also videos and images of Burke's own face being put over the male's face and other female victims' faces being put on the female's face to create AI pornography of himself where it appears he is having sexual relations with other victims known to him," the affidavit states.

When questioned by police on Wednesday, "Burke admitted to using faces from past friends from high school or college" to create the deepfakes, according to investigators.

When asked about the AI-generated images of children, Burke claimed those were created "by accident multiple times. He stated that he learned there were several words he would have to avoid so the generator wouldn't create children," the affidavit states.

Investigators also noted in their affidavit that "Burke currently works for an AI company and is the chief technology officer for them."

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