Tom Hanks responds to advert that used AI version of him without permission
Published on Oct 02, 2023 at 8:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Oct 03, 2023 at 3:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Tom Hanks has alleged that a dental company used an AI version of him in an advert without his permission.
Without naming the company, the 67-year-old actor wrote over a screenshot of the ad which he claims using an AI-generated image.
Posting yesterday (Sunday 1 October) to his 9.5 million followers he writes:
“BEWARE!! There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”
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The star of Big has not shied away from AI in the past for his work in both the Polar Express and A Man Called Otto.
However he has expressed concerns about AI on The Adam Buxton podcast in May.
“I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and that’s it, but my performances can go on and on and on,” the Oscar Winner said.
Hanks elaborated that it’s hard to make a distinction between AI and real-life performances.
“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.
“That’s certainly an artistic challenge, but also a legal one,” he said.
Just ahead of the Hollywood writer’s strike he spoke about AI causing controversy in the industry.
“We saw this coming. We saw that there was going to be this ability to take zeros and ones inside a computer and turn it into a face and a character. Now that has only grown a billionfold since then, and we see it everywhere,” he said.
“I can tell you that there are discussions going on in all of the guilds, all of the agencies, and all of the legal firms to come up with the legal ramifications of my face and my voice – and everybody else’s – being our intellectual property.
“Right now if I wanted to, I could get together and pitch a series of seven movies that would star me in them in which I would be 32 years old from now until kingdom come. Anybody can now recreate themselves at any age they are by way of AI or deepfake technology.”
The Writers Guild of America board unanimously voted to affirm a deal to end the strike on Wednesday (27 September).
According to a statement from the organisation as well as increased pay and streaming residuals bonuses, there are also assurances against AI.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
