Time is running out. On day five of the search for her 84-year-old mother, Savannah Guthrie has broken her silence with a haunting video message. Facing the terrifying new reality of AI deepfakes and unverified ransom reports, the ‘Today’ anchor is issuing a direct ultimatum to possible captors: prove she’s alive, and we’re ready to talk. WATCH the heart-wrenching plea and the expert analysis on this high-stakes race against time.
Savannah Guthrie distributes video beseeching mother’s safe return.
Where things stand
• Tearful plea: “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie is imploring for her 84-year-old mother’s safe return. She and her siblings reacted yesterday by video to reports of purported ransom notes, petitioning potential captors to provide verification their mother is alive and saying: “We are ready to listen”.
• Still no suspects: Investigators contend Nancy Guthrie was removed from her home against her desire, but there are no suspects yet, the sheriff’s department noted yesterday, cautioning that sharing unverified claims or false information is “irresponsible”.
• Race against time: The search for Guthrie has commenced a fifth day, further intensifying fears for her safety. Savannah Guthrie said her mother “lives in perpetual pain” and requires her prescription medication to survive.
Watch Neighbors of Savannah Guthrie’s mother fear for her safety
With the modern expansion of artificial intelligence tools and deepfake videos, the family of Nancy Guthrie — along with the investigators trying strenuously to find her — are on high alert for possible counterfeit messages from whoever took her.
“You could imagine a really vile scenario where someone could try to create a ransom note or a proof of life video that was AI generated,” CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter said this morning.
Savannah Guthrie referenced this in a video message circulated yesterday to whoever may be holding her mom.
“We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily falsified,” she said, adding the family necessitates proof Nancy Guthrie is alive.
“What you hear Savannah saying there is whoever is detaining her mom, you have to prove you’re actually with her and that she is alive and she is OK,” Stelter said. “Provide us that content that’s not AI generated, that can’t be mimicked or faked”.
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Former FBI deputy director analyzes video of Savannah Guthrie’s plea
CNN senior law enforcement analyst and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe scrutinizes the video from Savannah Guthrie and her siblings requesting their mom’s safe return.
“I feel like this is a relatively strong signal that they do not believe that they’ve had a valid ransom demand yet,” he says.
