Tom Hanks took to Instagram to alert his fans about a deceptive online dental plan advertisement featuring a computer-generated image of himself.
The Oscar-winning actor shared his concerns about the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology in the creative industries.
Tom Hanks Raises Awareness on Deepfake Technology
With the popularity of AI across almost all industries, there's no doubt that it has been an overused term in social media. While it's deemed to be useful in simplifying tasks like in the case of ChatGPT, misusing AI-generated content can mislead people.
According to NBC News, Hanks is the latest celebrity to become a victim of AI content. The actor voiced out on Instagram that his followers should beware of this AI counterpart circulating online.
Based on his post, Hanks was urging people to have their teeth cleaned up. However, he said that he had nothing to do with the promotion.
Tom Hanks is Against Deepfake Misuse
Hanks has been an advocate for awareness regarding the potential misuse of deepfake technology, which has the capability to recreate individuals at any age, even after their passing. During an episode of "The Adam Buxton Podcast," he expressed his thoughts on the subject.
The actor emphasized that AI and deepfake technology now have the potential to generate lifelike performances, raising both artistic and legal challenges.
Hanks mentioned that discussions are underway among various industry bodies and legal experts to address the intellectual property rights associated with individuals' faces and voices.
Read also: Dangers of Deepfakes: AI-Generated Images of Trump's Arrest Go Viral! How Do You Spot a Deepfake?
Legal Implications and Ethical Concerns
With some AI content almost identical to the real subject, it's understandable why some people get confused upon seeing an AI-generated image online.
Hanks said that it's always important to recognize the difference between an AI photo and a human-made image. Creators become better at making them human-like and the way to distinguish them from one another becomes more challenging.
The actor's comments suggest that there are legal complexities surrounding deepfake technology. Having said that, there's a need for comprehensive legal frameworks and ethical considerations within the entertainment industry.
As per an AI expert, spotting deepfakes becomes even harder than before. Tech Times reported that generative AI often brings disinformation on the internet regardless if it's written or just visual content.
According to Cayce Myers who is researching deepfakes, all users should have a better understanding of how disinformation spreads on the internet.
With this, seeing deepfakes means digital danger for those people who have no knowledge about them. If it goes viral, then the fake news could have a bigger implication in society.
Aside from Hanks, another popular actor Keanu Reeves has concerns with AI. According to the "Matrix" star, both deepfakes and AI are scary.
Since Reeves was not impressed with this technology and how it impacted the film industry, his movie contracts reportedly banned digital edits.
