Deepfake Sparks Controversy: Scarlett Johansson Pushes for AI Safeguards
Picture courtesy: Pintrest
Scarlett Johansson is advocating for U.S. lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence, sparked by a viral, unauthorized AI-generated video. The video featured AI versions of Johansson and other Jewish celebrities like Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, and Mark Zuckerberg seemingly protesting Kanye West’s antisemitism. The video showed AI versions of the celebrities flipping off the camera, with an AI Adam Sandler doing so while “Hava Nagila” played. The video concluded with messages promoting the fight against antisemitism.
Johansson called out the “misuse of AI” in her statement and wrote, “I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.”
Johansson condemned the video, stating that even when used to combat antisemitism, the misuse of AI is dangerous. She emphasized the need for regulation, highlighting that AI-driven hate speech poses a significant threat. She noted her prior experiences as a victim of AI, referring to a 2023 incident where her likeness was used in an online ad without her permission and a more recent issue with DeepAI’s GPT-4o chatbot “Sky,” which Johansson felt used a voice eerily similar to hers from the movie “Her,” even after she declined to let them use her voice.
She points out that many countries are responding to the dangers of AI responsibly, but that the U.S. government has been paralyzed.
The incident has renewed her call for government intervention to protect individuals from the potential dangers of AI. It is also mentioned that Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks have led to consequences like being dropped by his talent manager and his X profile being suspended. His website Yeezy.com was also shut down for selling a shirt with a swastika on it.
Johansson concluded her statement by writing: “I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”
#AI, #Deepfake, #AISafety, #AIethics, #DigitalRights, #TechRegulation, #AIregulation, #ScarlettJohansson, #Antisemitism, #CelebrityNews, #StandAgainstHate
Suparna Rao, Staff Reporter
