Tom Hanks Warns of AI Fake Ad Featuring Himself
Tom Hanks, the renowned Hollywood actor, has issued a warning about an advertisement that appears to feature him but is actually an artificial intelligence (AI) fake. Hanks took to Instagram to clarify that he has no association with the dental plan promotion.
Concerns about AI’s impact on the entertainment industry have been a recurring theme for Hanks, and these concerns have driven recent strikes by high-profile actors and writers. With the advancement of AI systems, the creation of realistic virtual versions of real people, known as deepfakes, has become more prevalent.
The misuse of deepfakes, particularly in pornography and acts of revenge, led the government to strengthen laws in England and Wales to facilitate the prosecution of offenders. The problem of online misinformation has also been exacerbated by the fabrication of AI images and videos of politicians, targeting figures such as former US President Donald Trump and the current leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Nevertheless, AI video manipulation has also been employed in non-controversial ways. For instance, renowned Swedish band Abba used AI technology to create pioneering virtual concerts.
Hanks previously discussed the potential of AI to extend the careers of performing artists when he appeared on the Adam Buxton podcast in May. He acknowledged how technology has enabled the recreation of characters through AI and deepfake technology, noting that performances could continue even after an actor’s demise.
The fear of being replaced by AI has contributed to a wave of strikes in Hollywood, resulting in disruptions to popular shows like Stranger Things and the Last of Us. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) recently reached a tentative agreement with studio executives, ending the strike by screenwriters. However, a separate dispute involving actors, partially motivated by concerns about AI’s impact on acting job opportunities, remains unresolved.
Hanks’ alarm about the AI fake ad featuring him serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges posed by AI technology in the entertainment industry. As AI systems continue to advance in power and sophistication, society must grapple with the potential consequences of deepfakes and work towards finding ethical solutions to protect individuals from the misuse of AI-generated content.