This August, The Rubin Report, a political talk show, will be broadcast five days a week on YouTube, but Dave Rubin will be absent, enjoying a vacation completely disconnected from technology.
To maintain the show’s schedule, pre-recorded interviews, documentaries, and an AI-generated video clone of Rubin will be featured. This clone, created by the AI startup SkipClass, is trained using hundreds of hours of Rubin’s existing content. Throughout August, the AI will be fed current news stories and will then deliver monologues reflecting Rubin’s conservative viewpoints, likely including criticisms of progressives and their perceived “endless misery,” similar to comments the real Rubin made on a recent episode.
Rubin joins a growing list of celebrities exploring digital representations, including Deepak Chopra and . He acknowledges the potential downsides of this decision. “Could this AI experiment go horribly wrong? Is it possible the machines will revolt, leading to a Terminator-like scenario? Perhaps,” Rubin told TIME. “However, this technological shift is underway, and I want to participate and understand it, ideally with other responsible individuals.”
“I recently attended the AI All-In , where Trump, JD, and others spoke,” he added. “Hopefully, we can introduce this technology in a thoughtful and responsible manner.”
Rubin has cultivated a strong following on YouTube—with 3 million subscribers and 2 million daily views—through his consistent posts on politics and cultural issues. He also values the ability to disconnect. For the past eight years, Rubin has taken a full month off from the internet in August for a mental reset. He recently considered using AI to maintain his online presence during his August break, allowing a clone to keep audience engagement and generate views and attention.
To achieve this, he partnered with SkipClass, an AI startup focused on creating interactive learning experiences with AI versions of public figures like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Fry. According to co-founder Jared Zelman, SkipClass uses both open-source and private models, refining its AI characters with custom datasets and proprietary algorithms.
Phoenix Glenn, Rubin’s executive producer, noted that the initial AI Dave iteration was unrefined. For example, when asked about Gavin Newsom, the AI provided a basic Wikipedia-style biography. “But when I discuss Gavin Newsom, I’m likely to use strong language,” Rubin explained.
With further adjustments and training, the AI model more closely captured Rubin’s sharp, politically incorrect style. “I’m incredibly impressed with what they’ve developed,” he said.
Rubin admits to some concern that the AI could eventually replace him. “In some ways, yes. We’re all ultimately replaceable,” he said. He anticipates potential inaccuracies in the AI’s early stages. “It’s possible I’ll return in September and find people think the AI missed the mark on several issues,” he said. “But it’s also possible it will become so accurate that the real Dave Rubin will need to retire sooner than expected.”
Regarding the possibility of deepfake videos featuring AI Dave making statements Rubin disagrees with, he stated, “That already happens with the real me.” He explained that his videos are sometimes edited to misrepresent his intended message. “If you make a living speaking, you can’t constantly worry about that.”
Some of Rubin’s fans may react negatively to the AI clone. When Rubin about AI in early July, commenters expressed their concerns and dislike, with one writing, “AI fatigue already at 100%. It only makes me want to cling to Jesus.”
Rubin responded to this comment by saying, “You have to act according to your convictions. If that leads to negative consequences, you can always reassess.”
Fans can also interact with AI Dave directly on SkipClass’s . TIME tested the tool and found the avatar visually unnatural, with frozen cheeks and static forehead creases despite mouth movements. However, the AI’s vocal delivery and content resembled Dave Rubin. “Illegal immigration is a huge mess…You get criminals, gangs causing chaos, and regular folks paying the price,” it said. “It’s insane to think otherwise.”
When asked if President Trump was responsible for getting caught up in ICE raids, AI Dave responded, “Sure, some mishaps happen, but that’s on the system, not just on one person. Trump said his policies and the agencies need to execute them properly. Blame the incompetence within those agencies.”
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