Tom Hanks Issues Unusual Warning About Unauthorized AI Video Using His Likeness
3 min read
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Tom Hanks interrupted his normal social media posts on projects he’s working on and causes he supports to issue a warning to his fans. The actor shared a still photograph from a promotional video that reportedly features an AI version of him. Hanks added, “BEWARE!!” on top of the photograph. There’s a video on the internet promoting a dentistry plan featuring an AI version of me. I’ve got absolutely nothing to do with it.” He subsequently signed his name and left the caption blank. The depiction of Hanks in the photograph looks like him, but it’s younger and has an unnatural aspect to it. Hanks didn’t elaborate on where he viewed the video or who was behind it.
The original video could not be found, and it is unknown why Hanks issued the warning, however, it could be related to preserving his image and likeness. Earlier this year, when appearing on The Adam Bux ton Podcast, Hanks discussed the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) as well as how it’s being utilised in film to de-age celebrities, saying that it has the potential to recreate a whole performance from an actor after their death. Hanks previously used comparable AI technologies in the 2004 film The Polar Express, although AI capabilities have substantially evolved since then.
Tom Hanks Issues Strange Warning Regarding Video Circulating Online
Tom Hanks has issued a strong caution to his fans after an AI-generated film featuring the actor’s image went viral. The Hollywood star informed his 9.5 million Instagram followers that a video featuring a computer-generated image of himself endorsing a dental plan was a hoax created without his knowledge or approval. “BEWARE!! There’s a video on the internet promoting a dentistry plan featuring an AI version of me. “I have absolutely nothing to do with it,” the 67-year-old actor posted a screenshot of the AI photograph used in the hoax, although he did not elaborate on the dental plan touted in the video. The Elvis Presley star has been vocal about the expanding usage of artificial intelligence in the television and film industries, which would allow creatives to reproduce an actor’s resemblance in a computer-generated image or projected over a stunt double. “The first time we did a film with a tremendous amount of our own data contained in a computer — precisely what we appeared like — was a movie titled The Polar Express,” he said on The Adam Buxton Podcast in May, alluding to his 2004 Christmas animated film.
“We anticipated this. We observed this ability to take zeros and ones within a computer as well as turn them into a face and a character. That has only multiplied a billion-fold since then, and we can see it everywhere.” Hanks went on to speak about his concerns regarding the “lingering” usage of AI in his sector, stating that fans may be unable to tell the difference between a phoney image and the genuine actor. “I can tell you that there are discussions going on in all of the guilds, agencies, and legal firms about how to deal with the legal ramifications of my face as well as my voice — and everyone else’s — being our intellectual property,” Hanks stated in the podcast. This is a concern shared by Hanks’ colleagues. During the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strike, there was discussion on the need to protect the business against AI technology, which could possibly utilise a star’s likeness without their permission or completely replace background actors.
