Veteran Hollywood actor Tom Hanks has issued a warning to his fans regarding an AI-generated version of himself appearing in an advertisement for a dental plan.
Tom Hanks Raises Alarm
The Oscar-winning actor shared a computer-generated image on his Instagram account that closely resembles him and emphasized that he has absolutely no involvement with it.
In his Instagram post, the 67-year-old actor 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.” He expressed his concern that the AI-generated image had been used in the advertisement without his consent.
Tom Hanks has previously discussed the implications of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology in the entertainment industry. During an appearance on the “Adam Buxton Podcast” in May, he highlighted the potential impact of AI on movies. He noted that AI and deepfake technology could enable actors to continue appearing in new films even after their passing.
Hanks mentioned, “Anybody can now recreate themselves at any age they are by way of AI or deepfake technology. I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and that’s it, but my performances can go on and on and on. And outside of the understanding that it’s been done by AI or deepfake, there’ll be nothing to tell you that it’s not me and me alone. And it’s going to have some degree of lifelike quality. And that is certainly an artistic challenge, but it’s also a legal one.”
Furthermore, Hanks shared that industry professionals are now engaged in discussions about how to protect actors from the potential consequences of evolving technology.
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Tom Hanks revealed that discussions are ongoing within various industry organizations, including guilds, agencies, and legal firms, to address the legal implications surrounding the use of an actor’s face and voice as their intellectual property. This discussion arises due to the increasing capabilities of AI and deepfake technology.
Hanks has had prior experience with digital animation, notably starring as a digitally animated version of himself in the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” Additionally, he underwent de-aging technology for scenes in the 2022 film “A Man Called Otto.”
