- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
OpenAI Debunks 'Leaked' Super Bowl Ad Hoax
Alleged video of new OpenAI hardware device was completely fabricated
Published on Feb. 8, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A supposed 'leaked' video of an OpenAI Super Bowl ad featuring actor Alexander Skarsgård and a shiny orb-shaped device was revealed to be a hoax. Screenshots of a deleted Reddit post claimed an employee had accidentally shared the ad, but OpenAI quickly dismissed the story as completely fake. The hoax appears to have been in the works for some time, with attempts to promote it on multiple platforms, including a paid tweet proposal. OpenAI confirmed the entire incident was fabricated.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges companies face in combating misinformation and hoaxes, especially around high-profile events like the Super Bowl where there is intense interest and speculation. OpenAI moved quickly to shut down the false narrative, protecting its brand and reputation.
The details
The hoax centered around screenshots of a now-deleted Reddit post that claimed a frustrated employee had accidentally leaked an OpenAI Super Bowl ad video. The video allegedly showed actor Alexander Skarsgård and what could have been OpenAI's first hardware device, described as a shiny orb with wraparound earbuds. However, OpenAI quickly dismissed the story as completely fake, with the company's president calling it 'fake news' and a spokesperson confirming it was totally fabricated. Further investigation revealed the Reddit account behind the original post had only existed for about a year and had previously been used by someone looking to grow their bookkeeping business in Santa Monica, suggesting the hoax had been in the works for some time.
- On February 9, 2026, screenshots of a deleted Reddit post about the 'leaked' OpenAI Super Bowl ad began circulating online.
- Earlier that day, OpenAI officially denied the story, with the company's president and a spokesperson calling it completely fake.
The players
Greg Brockman
The president of OpenAI who called the story about the 'leaked' Super Bowl ad 'fake news'.
Lindsay McCallum Rémy
An OpenAI spokesperson who confirmed the story about the 'leaked' Super Bowl ad was totally fabricated.
Alexander Skarsgård
The actor who was allegedly featured in the 'leaked' OpenAI Super Bowl ad video.
Kate Rouch
The OpenAI Chief Marketing Officer who mentioned an 'entire fake website' trying to back up the story about the 'leaked' Super Bowl ad.
Gillian Follett
An AdAge reporter who tweeted about a 'fake headline' attributed to her, falsely portraying a story about OpenAI changing its Super Bowl ad.
What they’re saying
“this is totally fake.”
— Lindsay McCallum Rémy, OpenAI Spokesperson (Twitter)
“Fake news.”
— Greg Brockman, OpenAI President (Twitter)
What’s next
OpenAI is expected to continue monitoring for any further attempts to spread misinformation about the company and its activities, especially around high-profile events like the Super Bowl.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges companies face in combating hoaxes and fabricated stories, particularly in the age of social media where misinformation can spread rapidly. OpenAI's swift response to debunk the 'leaked' ad story helped protect its brand and reputation, demonstrating the importance of proactive communication and fact-checking in the face of such attempts to mislead the public.
