My point was not to fear monger but to get at the idea that there's more to the fact that CNN is covering this than the story straight up and throwing out a possibility.

The question is nonsensical because it can be answered correctly with "because they chose to" The motives of CNN are clear if you ask yourself who does it benefit?

since the idea behind the blackmailing is that it would destroy them in the eyes of the public.

We have passed the point where AI generated video can be distinguished from actual video. I used DARPA as an example of a private military lab on the cutting edge, it is one of many. These organizations wouldn't announce a strategic advantage. There will be no speed bump or CNN story announcing their news is now indistinguishable from what AI can generate, they would be out of a job.