Actor Tom Hanks warns fans of an ‘AI version of me’ promoting dental plan

SAN FRANCISCO – Actor Tom Hanks and talk-show co-host Gayle King on Monday warned fans about advertisements featuring imposters generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

“Beware,” Hanks, 67, said in an Instagram post that evidently showed an unauthorised digital version of him.

“There is a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”

The message had received more than 114,700 “likes” since the two-time Academy Award-winning actor shared it on Instagram with his 9.5 million followers on Sunday.

King, a co-host of CBS Mornings talk show, posted what she said was a bogus video clip of her enticing viewers to click on a link to learn about her weight loss “secret”.

“I have nothing to do with this company,” said the 68-year-old in her Instagram post.

“I’ve never heard of this product or used it. Please don’t be fooled by these AI videos.”

Safeguards against AI being used to replicate screen talent were among the issues fought over during the writers’ strike that paralysed Hollywood until

a recent tentative deal was reached in late September.

The still ongoing strike by Hollywood actors has yet to be resolved.

Generative AI programs burst into the spotlight in late 2022, with ChatGPT demonstrating an ability to generate essays, poems and conversations from the briefest prompts.

AI models have added capabilities such as being able to generate digital imagery on command, raising fears the technology will be used to create “deep fake” pictures and videos that fool people into thinking they are real.

Tech titans Google, Meta and Microsoft are among those racing to capitalise on the promise of generative AI, while trying to avoid perils such as the technology’s potential as a weapon for misinformation and cybercrime. AFP