The advancement of technology and AI (Deepfake) has been a double-edged sword for the entertainment industry. While it helps profoundly in the technical feats required in a film, there is also the fear of it invading the authenticity of the art form and this continues to instill fear in actors. One of the core elements of the Hollywood strikes was to limit studios from the use of AI to replicate actors.
However, there have been many instances where deepfake pictures and videos of various celebs like Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, etc were circulated on the internet which have affected the celebrities personally. They are also sometimes employed to scam people through the excise of charitable donations.
Other High Profile Celebrities Have also Been Victims of Deepfake Technology
The infamous Deepfake technology has been a troubling factor for many celebrities whose identities have been replicated by AI without their consent. Many tech-savvy people have invaded their personal space and this has led to many controversial deepfake pictures and videos on the internet.
Scammers have made use of deepfake videos of celebrities like Taylor Swift where an artificially generated version of her promotes Le Creuset kitchenware (via NY Times). Scarlett Johansson also fell victim to this deepfake treatment as an AI-generated version of her promoted a firm called Lisa AI (via Sky News). Here are 5 other celebs whose identities were stolen to scam others.
1. Tom Hanks
Last October, Tom Hanks warned everyone on his Instagram about a fake dental ad featuring an AI-generated version of him. He urged audiences not to fall for the ad as he wrote “BEWARE!! There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it,”
The actor had previously expressed his concerns about AI on “The Adam Buxton Podcast” and how “anybody can now recreate themselves at any age they are by way of AI or deep fake technology”, and even after their death. This is one of the things that actors were campaigning against during the strikes.
2. Tom Cruise
However, the people behind Metaphysic, the company behind these videos claim that they do not have any ill intentions with their videos and just “likes to mesmerize people” with their videos (via CNN Business). It remains to be seen how Cruise and his team respond if they ever come to know of this.
3. Emma Watson
Last year, various deepfake videos where the faces of various movie stars were swapped and put in derogatory videos online. Celebrities’ faces including the likes of Emma Watson were put on display in these videos which were of a se*ual nature on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. (via NBC News)
4. Steve Harvey
Numerous deepfake photos featuring the popular host of Family Feud Steve Harvey started circulating on X. In these fake photos, the comedian is shown in various scenarios including singing in a rock band, being chased by a supernatural being, arm-wrestling with Mr. Potato head, etc.(via Complex)
While fans are having a field day with these photos on social media, it is ethically wrong to use the comedian’s identity for such purposes without his consent. The trend continues and several other celebs get manipulated in the same way.
Also read: Voice Actors Rise Up Against AI Deepfakes Replicating their Money-makers
5. Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell was shocked when she came to know that her face was being used in a deepfake p**n video. As he told Vox she felt it “hard to think about that I’m being exploited.”. Bell did not have the slightest idea that something like this would ever happen to her.
This is highly derogatory behavior and this will mislead audiences and harm the reputation of the celebrities themselves.
