Tom Hanks is the most recent victim of deepfake
Tom Hanks, the beloved actor with a massive Instagram following of 9.5 million, recently took to the platform to warn his fans about a dental advertisement featuring an AI-generated version of himself.
In a straightforward message, Hanks stated, "BEWARE!! There's a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it".
To emphasize his point, Tom Hanks shared a screenshot from the deceptive AI dental ad on Instagram.
Tom Hanks and AI in entertainment
Hanks' revelation raises important questions about the role of AI in the entertainment industry. While he has expressed reservations about AI's integration into cinema, he has also embraced technology-enhanced portrayals in past films, such as "The Polar Express" and "A Man Called Otto".
In a candid conversation on a podcast with British humorist Adam Buxton, Hanks acknowledged the expanding potential of AI in visual media, noting its ability to create lifelike characters from mere computer code.
The legal and artistic challenges of AI reproduction
During his podcast discussion, Hanks also touched on the legal and artistic challenges posed by AI-generated content. He highlighted the unsettling prospect of AI creating perpetually young versions of actors, potentially even after their passing. The blurred line between AI-generated and authentic performances presents both artistic opportunities and legal complexities.
AI's impact on the entertainment industry
The conclusion of the US writers' strike brought AI's growing influence in the entertainment industry into the spotlight. While guidelines were established between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television to govern AI's role in cinematic and television projects, Sag-Aftra, the union representing Hollywood actors, continues to grapple with unresolved issues. Their concerns revolve around fair compensation and the ethical implications of AI replicating actor representations without consent.
As AI continues to advance, the entertainment industry faces profound questions about creativity, authenticity, and the rights of actors. Tom Hanks' warning serves as a reminder that these discussions are not limited to science fiction but have become a pressing reality in Hollywood.
Now you: What do you think the use of AI technologies in sectors that require creativity can lead to?
Featured image credit: Image by liuzishan on Freepik.
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