The article highlights the alarming trend of individuals, particularly actors, monetizing their likenesses for quick financial gains, only to face unintended negative consequences. Simon Lee and Connor Yeates share their experiences of having their images utilized in misleading AI-generated videos, leading to the promotion of scams and political propaganda. This raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology, especially deepfakes, which can easily spread misinformation. Many public figures are now more vigilant, understanding the risks and implications of their likeness being exploited in this digital landscape.
In 2022, British actor and model Connor Yeates signed a three-year deal with a company called Synthesia for $5,240 because, at the time, he was sleeping on a friend's couch and needed the money. Later, Yeates found out that his face was used in a video to promote Ibrahim Traore, the president of Burkina Faso who took power in a coup d'état in 2022 - a usage that was a blatant violation of Synthesia's terms of service.
These stories encapsulate AI technology's potential to perpetuate misinformation, and in particular the invasiveness of AI-enabled deepfakes. With very little effort, anyone willing to pay money to use these services - which are sometimes free - can create a convincing enough video of someone saying something, so long as there's enough footage of that person out there.
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