Celebrity Endorsers Scarlett Johansson, Kylie Jenner, and Taylor Swift Find Themselves Involved in AI-Facilitated Fraudulent Activities
Here's a fresh take on the article:
Hey there! Ever come across peculiar videos on social media featuring celebs like Sydney Sweeney or Tom Hanks peddling dubious products? It's time to raise a brow, mate. Thanks to AI technology, celebs are being duped left and right in these deepfake videos, shilling products without their knowledge or consent.
Cybersecurity firm McAfee recently released a list of celebrities whose likenesses have been misused this year. Scarlett Johansson takes the top spot, which is intriguing, given her stance against non-consensual AI content. Despite being approached by OpenAI to lend her voice for their robotics tech, Johansson turned them down. OpenAI went ahead and crafted a sound-alike voice for one of their demos, but they scrapped it after Johansson threatened legal action.
Other famous faces on McAfee's list include Kylie Jenner, Taylor Swift, and Tom Hanks. In August, Hanks took to Instagram to warn about AI fakes peddling pharmaceuticals using his likeness.
"There's a flurry of ads online misusing my name, image, and voice to promote bogus cures," Hanks said, explaining that he only cooperates with his doctor regarding his diabetes treatment. He ended his post with an urgent plea: "DON'T BE FOOLED! DON'T BE SWINDELED! DON'T WASTE YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY!"
The bottom line? It's all about siphoning money using the fame of well-known individuals.
McAfee's list, embellished with their explanations:
- Scarlett Johansson: Actress whose voice has been imitated for robotic assistant tech (declined cooperation)
- Kylie Jenner: Reality star whose image has been misused for social media scams and fake cosmetics products
- Taylor Swift: Singer whose name has been pirated for endorsements, ticket scams, and misinformation (political endorsements)
- Anya Taylor-Joy: Actress whose social accounts and image have been used for disinformation about her streaming series
- Tom Hanks: Actor whose likeness has been usurped to promote shoddy pharmaceuticals
- Sabrina Carpenter: Singer whose name has been exploited for ticket scams and sexually explicit app advertising
- Sydney Sweeney: Actress whose image has been used for crypto scams
- Blake Lively: Actress whose likeness has been misused in weight loss gummy scams
- Johnny Depp: Actor whose image has been hijacked for giveaway, crypto, and fundraising scams
- Addison Rae: Singer and actress whose image has been pilfered for fake endorsements, giveaways, and crypto scams
While Elon Musk doesn't make McAfee's list, we at Gizmodo often encounter consumer complaints about crypto scams using his face. Keep your eyes peeled, folks! As AI technology evolves, it'll be tougher to discern deepfakes from the real deal. So stay sharp and apply some skepticism whenever a celebrity endorsement lands in your social media feed.
"In today's world where celebrity gossip is a daily conversation and just a click away, folks usually opt for convenience over online safety," Abhishek Karnik, McAfee's Head of Threat Research, says. "But if it appears too good to be true, it's worth a rethink. With cybercriminals employing advanced AI tools to create more convincing scams, the risks are escalating. Celebrity names are the perfect bait for the curious. That's why vigilance and critical thinking are crucial."
- Abhishek Karnik, McAfee's Head of Threat Research, emphasizes the importance of vigilance as AI technology advances and cybercriminals employ artificial intelligence to create more convincing scams, using celebrities as bait for the curious.
- Amidst the growing use of celebrities in deepfake videos for peddling dubious products on social media, tech giants like OpenAI are also not exempt from controversy, as they have been accused of imitating the voice of Scarlett Johansson for robotic assistant tech without her consent.
- In the future, the misuse of artificial intelligence could potentially extend beyond celebrities, impacting individuals and companies alike, making cybersecurity an essential concern for everyone.
- As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, it is supposed that the line between real and fake will become increasingly blurred, making it imperative for consumers to apply critical thinking and skepticism when encountering celebrity endorsements online.
