Tom Hanks warns fans about AI voice scams on Instagram

Tom Hanks recently alerted his followers on Instagram about the rise of AI voice scams that exploit his likeness and voice for fraudulent drug advertisements. This issue highlights a significant gap in legal protections, as current federal and state laws do not adequately regulate the use of AI to replicate the voices or images of public figures. Experts, including Edward Tian from GPTZero, emphasize the urgent need for laws to keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI technology. The proliferation of both commercial and open-source AI tools has made it easier for scammers to create convincing deep fakes. Vijay Balasubramaniyan from Pindrop stresses the importance of consumer vigilance and better oversight from social media platforms to combat misleading content. He advocates for improved AI control mechanisms and regulations that would increase the costs for fraudsters, thereby deterring such scams. Hanks' warning is part of a broader concern regarding the unauthorized use of celebrities' voices and images, which can lead to a loss of privacy and public trust. Ken Miyachi from Bitmind points out that the exploitation of a celebrity's likeness can severely damage their brand and reputation, which takes years to build. The potential for deep fakes to erode credibility poses a significant threat to both celebrities and the general public. The proposed No AI Fraud Act aims to establish legal frameworks to prevent unauthorized AI use of individuals' likenesses and voices. If enacted, this legislation could help protect both famous and ordinary people from exploitation, ensuring that the integrity of personal identities is maintained in the face of advancing technology.