Generative AI can hallucinate and present false information confidently, and it can also perform unintended actions when prompted. A bizarre Paramount+ thumbnail shows William Shatner as Captain Kirk in a suit and tie fighting aboard the USS Stargazer, resembling an AI-generated image rather than the classic movie artwork. An award-winning author and artist speculated that Paramount+ used generative technology to create the rest of the image after intending to use an existing poster. Some users reported seeing the correct box art while others saw the AI-generated “slop” version. A check on a PlayStation 5 confirmed the AI-like thumbnail appeared in the sci-fi and fantasy browsing area. The incident may reflect efforts by Paramount’s newer owners to become more technologically capable, though the cause remains unclear.
"There are a lot of problems with generative AI. One of them is that it frequently hallucinates stuff and confidently submits it as fact. Another is that you might ask it to do one thing and then it starts doing a bunch of things you didn't want it to do instead. For example, you might ask it to show subscribers to your streaming platform custom thumbnails that will make them more likely to engage with your content. But then, instead of pulling from a list of pre-approved images, it might start creating its own rogue nightmare fuel."
"It's impossible to say if that's what is going on with a truly bizarre thumbnail of William Shatner as Captain Kirk for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Paramount+. But then, how else to explain an apparently AI-generated image of Kirk wearing a suit and tie while fighting for his life aboard the USS Stargazer in one of the most classic sci-fi movies ever made?"
"Paramount+ wanted to use the image on the left as a poster for the wrath of Khan, so they used everyone's least favorite technology to generate the rest of the image. Users in the comments opened the app to go look and while some were served the existing box art for the movie, others got AI slop Kirk."
"I went to go confirm this by opening up Paramount+ on my PlayStation 5 this morning and browsing through the sci-fi and fantasy section. Sure enough, Terminator Kirk was right there with his glowing red eye staring back at me. Is this truly a rogue AI trying to boost engagement on the fifth-place streaming service, or did someone play around with ChatGPT and then accidentally upload the wrong thumbnail?"
Read at Kotaku
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