Tom Hanks Warns Fans Of Scams Using His AI-Generated Images To Promote 'Miracle Cures And Wonder Drugs'

Acclaimed actor Tom Hanks has issued a warning to his followers about deceptive advertisements that misuse his likeness, created by artificial intelligence (AI), without his authorization.

What Happened: Hanks took to Instagram to warn his fans about a series of online ads that falsely use his name, image, and voice to endorse “miracle cures and wonder drugs,” as CNN reported on Friday. The actor clarified that these ads were produced without his consent, fraudulently, and through AI.

The actor, who has been transparent about his type 2 diabetes, stated that he only consults with his board-certified doctor regarding his treatment and has no connection with these posts or the products and treatments they promote.

See Also: Mark Zuckerberg Reminds People That Facebook Was Far More Exclusive Once Than It Is Today, It Was Limited After All To People With A Certain Type Of Email Address — ‘Real Ones Know’

Why It Matters: Hanks is not alone in falling victim to AI misuse. Other celebrities including Drake, The Weeknd, and Taylor Swift have also seen their names and images falsely used in AI-generated content. This has prompted calls for stronger protections against the misuse of personal identities in the digital age.

Previously, Hanks had expressed concerns about the implications of AI and deepfake technologies in the creative industries, predicting that this technology could replicate the performances of actors, including himself, even posthumously.

Moreover, the ongoing feud between Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI over the unauthorized use of a voice similar to Johansson's in the movie "Her" has rekindled Hollywood's fears about the potential threat of AI.

In response to these concerns, Tennessee recently enacted the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act (ELVIS Act) to protect individuals from unauthorized use of content that mimics their image or voice. The law came into effect last month.

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Image via Shutterstock

This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari