Scarlett Johansson’s AI fears after deepfake video of her opposing Kanye West goes viral
Hollywood’s Scarlett Johansson has issued a grave warning on the dangers of artificial intelligence after an unauthorised AI-generated video of her and other Jewish celebrities opposing controversial rapper Kanye West continues to go viral.
The video features deepfakes of more than two dozen Jewish celebrities including Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Sandler, Simon and Garfunkel, Lisa Kudrow, Woody Allen, Lenny Kravitz, Ben Stiller and Mila Kunis. All are are wearing a t-shirt with a hand holding up a middle finger featuring the Star of David with “Kanye” written beneath. The video ends with “Enough is Enough” and “Join the Fight Against Antisemitism.”
The video was released on Instagram by Ori Bejerano, described as an “Israeli generative AI entrepreneur”.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“We expected the video to gain traction, but we didn’t anticipate just how massive it would become,” said Guy Bar, founder of AI tech hub Elevaitor, who developed the video with Bejerano.
“We believe its impact comes from the fact that it touches a raw nerve for so many people worldwide – people who are tired of violence, exhausted by racism, and fed up with anti-Semitism.
“We wanted to use their voices, so to speak, to tell Kanye West: your anti-Semitism and incitement to violence have crossed every possible line. Enough is enough,” Bar told The Jerusalem Post, adding that the video took 24 hours to create.
Johansson, a mother of two and Academy Awards nominee, has been critical of AI previously and last year complained that the ChatGPT voice assistant sounded like her.
“It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an anti-Semitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction, “ Johansson told People magazine.
”I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for anti-Semitism 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.
“I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us.“There is a 1000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralysed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI. “I urge the US 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.”
West, who now goes by Ye, has come under fire following his racist and anti-Semitic slurs online. The star’s X account was later deactivated. His online store was shut down on Tuesday after it listed a t-shirt with a swastika for sale for $20.
It follows a commercial played on Los Angeles television during the Super Bowl featured West at the dentist where he directed the audience to his online shop but made no mention of the anti-Semitic merchandise.
