Recent reports have circulated claiming that a new stand-up comedy special by George Carlin had been released, accompanied by fabricated images of Taylor Swift and other notable figures like Steve Harvey endorsing Medicare schemes on YouTube. However, these events were not authentic but rather generated using artificial intelligence technology. In response to the AI-generated comedy special, George Carlin’s estate filed a lawsuit on Thursday. Moreover, there were deepfake pornographic images of Taylor Swift that surfaced on X (formerly Online), accumulating millions of views before being removed by the social media platform. YouTube took action by closing 90 accounts and suspending various promoters for impersonating celebrities. Despite facing criticism, these deepfakes are not isolated incidents of famous personalities being replicated using AI and are likely to persist in the future.
As technology advances rapidly, outpacing regulatory frameworks, the prevalence of AI manipulation is expected to escalate.
Significance of AI-Generated Images of Taylor Swift
Daniel Gervais, an intellectual property law professor at Vanderbilt University, highlights that computers can recreate the likeness of both living and deceased individuals. The critical concern revolves around individuals’ lack of control over their image being utilized without consent. Currently, only nine states in the U.S. have laws prohibiting the creation of nonconsensual deepfakes.
The lawsuit not only addresses AI but also focuses on those who exploit AI to violate intellectual property rights and ethical standards, as stated by Josh Schiller, a lawyer representing Carlin Estate. This legal case is part of a broader landscape of legal disputes arising from the advancement of artificial intelligence. The introduction of the No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications Act of 2024 (No AI FRAUD) by a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers aims to combat harmful digital impersonations such as voice clones and AI deepfakes.
The utilization of AI became a contentious issue during negotiations between major studios and prominent Hollywood actors and artists’ organizations last summer. The unions advocated for strict regulations on the use of AI by internet companies, fearing its potential to replace human labor. Following the disagreement, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher emphasized the significance of AI in negotiations, stating, “AI was a deal-breaker.” The question remains: what protective measures are in place for our members without a solid agreement?
A posthumous comedy special featuring a fabricated replication of George Carlin’s voice prompted a lawsuit filed by his estate against the creators.
With technological progress advancing exponentially, society is poised to encounter a surge in hyper-realistic yet falsified images, videos, and audio content. Haibing Lu, an associate professor at Santa Clara University, underscores that computer power doubles every one to two years, pointing towards a remarkable future.
Platforms like YouTube and X are grappling with the proliferation of AI-generated content, making it increasingly challenging to differentiate between authentic and fake media. YouTube acknowledged a troubling trend of exploiting celebrity likenesses to deceive consumers, emphasizing their commitment to bolster monitoring and protective measures.
It is foreseeable that discerning between genuine and AI-generated images will become exceedingly challenging. James O’Brien, a computer research professor at the University of California, Berkeley, predicts that “in the long run, distinguishing between generated images and real ones will become unfeasible.”
“The quality of generated images will only continue to advance.”
Contributors to this article include Chris Mueller, Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, and The Associated Press.
