Scarlett Johansson warns of 'AI misuse' after fake Kanye video

Scarlett Johansson, a well-known actress famous for her roles in movies such as Black Widow and Lost in Translation, has recently raised concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as AI. She has urged the United States government to prioritize the creation of laws that would limit the use of AI technology. This call to action comes in light of a troubling incident involving a deepfake video that falsely depicted her and several other Jewish celebrities, including David Schwimmer and Jerry Seinfeld, delivering a message of protest against Kanye West. The rapper, who has been in the news for making antisemitic remarks and selling T-shirts featuring swastikas, has faced significant backlash for his actions. In the fabricated video, Johansson and her fellow stars were shown wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Star of David while making an obscene gesture, accompanied by the word 'Kanye'. Scarlett expressed her disapproval of hate speech but emphasized her concern that the misuse of AI could lead to a dangerous blurring of reality. She stated, 'Hate speech multiplied by AI' poses a significant threat. In her statement, she revealed that family and friends had informed her about the AI-generated video that was circulating online. As a Jewish woman, she firmly stated, 'I have no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. ' However, she also highlighted that the potential for AI to amplify hate speech is a far greater concern than any individual who may be held accountable for their words. Scarlett urged everyone to recognize and condemn the misuse of AI, asserting, 'We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality. ' The deepfake video also included the likenesses of other prominent figures, such as Steven Spielberg, Adam Sandler, and Sacha Baron Cohen, who were depicted without their consent. The video carried a slogan that read, 'Enough is enough. Join the fight against anti-semitism. ' In a related context, Kanye West and his wife, Bianca Censori, attracted attention at the recent Grammy Awards when Bianca revealed a sheer dress. Kanye, who has legally changed his name to Ye, has made headlines for his controversial statements, including self-identifying as a 'Nazi' and expressing admiration for Hitler on social media before ultimately closing his account. He also appeared in a Super Bowl advertisement that directed viewers to his website, which was exclusively selling T-shirts featuring swastikas. However, the website was taken down by Shopify due to violations of their policies. Jack Abernethy, the CEO of Fox Television Stations, condemned the advertisement in a memo to staff, explaining that the ad was initially presented as a legitimate online apparel site but was later switched to promote an offensive product without the control of their stations. Meanwhile, Ty Dolla $ign, a musician who collaborated with Kanye on his recent albums, distanced himself from the rapper, although he refrained from mentioning him by name. He stated on Instagram, 'I do not condone any form of hate speech towards anybody. ' The new deepfake video targeting Kanye was created by Guy Bar and Ori Bejerano, digital marketers from an Israel-based creative agency called Gitam BBDO. Bejerano shared the video on Instagram, stating, 'It's time to stop being silent and respond to antisemites like Kanye West in the strongest way possible. ' Nicole Lampert commented on the situation, expressing that it was thrilling to see Jewish stars standing up to Kanye West, even if it was only through a fabricated video. She noted that the AI-generated video highlights the silence of many celebrities regarding this important issue. This situation is particularly relevant as fake advertisements featuring celebrities and public figures continue to be one of the most common types of scam ads appearing online.