"Hey, you!" shouts Kim Kardashian from her smartphone. "Can you draw this function on a graph?". The screen shows a simple graph while Kardashian explains a mathematical concept. Then Jordan Peterson joins in to clarify another point.

If it seems surreal, that's because it is. But for millions of people on social media, these AI-generated celebrity deepfakes are the latest trend in educational content, thanks to the creative efforts of 23-year-old data engineer Kabir Knupp, or "Kab" as he is better known.

Kab is the brains behind Onlock Learning, a social media channel where AI-generated celebrities teach basic math, physics and engineering concepts. Kab's videos are a hit, with millions of views and even a message from Elon Musk, whose image Kab used to explain logarithms.

The inspiration for Onlock Learning came from Kab's dissatisfaction with what he calls "rotten" content on platforms like YouTube Shorts. He then wondered if the addictive aspects of these videos could be harnessed to create something educational. Yes, they could.

To achieve this, Kab uses fast cuts, energetic music, subtitles and special appearances by AI-generated celebrities.

"These things make you fixate on the [content] and make it very easy to see," Kab told Freethink.

Why AI celebrities are teaching kids math and physics
“Hey, you!” Kim Kardashian yells through your smartphone’s speakers. “Draw out this function on a graph for me.” On the screen, a function appears against a white background. Kim explains […]
Freethink MediaStephen Johnson

Initially, Kab planned to use AI celebrities sparingly, as a friend had suggested that it might be too corny. However, when one of his videos with Santa Claus and Buddy the Elf went viral, Kab realized he was on the right track.

Kab admits that his approach may not be as effective as traditional methods. However, feedback from viewers suggests that some people are indeed learning from his videos.

Comments such as "bro's explanation is better than my teacher's" and "I understood this after failing math" indicate that the content is having an impact on its intended audience.

Kab's ultimate goal is to get young people interested in math, physics and engineering. While its current strategy involves AI-generated celebrities, it plans to create immersive video games where users can interact with AI characters and explore complex topics in real time.

"It's mainly young people who are learning these things, so why isn't any of the content, or the way it's taught, designed or adapted for young people?" asks Kab.