Tom Hanks, Zelda Williams Address AI Deep Fakes Amidst SAG-AFTRA Strike

Tom Hanks and Zelda Williams address Hollywood's artificial intelligence (AI) deep fake challenges amidst the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike to protect actors' digital likenesses and ensure content consent.

He also assured his fans that he had no involvement in promoting a dental plan that featured his likeness. While he did not reveal the company responsible for the promotional video, Hanks expressed his concern about an "AI version" of himself being used, according to a Forbes report.

Futurism noted their statements come amidst an ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA, which aims to establish regulations to safeguard stars' digital likenesses without jeopardizing their lucrative careers.

Support for Striking Actors

Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late Robin Williams, also raised her voice to support the striking actors. In an Instagram story, she criticized the recreation of her father's voice through AI, stating that it allows others to make him say whatever they want.

Williams shared her observations of AI deep fakes over the years, deeming them, at best, a poor imitation of great personalities and, at worst, a disturbing Frankensteinian creation that undermines the industry.

Williams acknowledged her personal connection to the issue in her post, as she is not an impartial observer in SAG's fight against AI. She asserted that living actors deserve the opportunity to shape their characters through their choices.

Growing Opposition within Hollywood

Tom Hanks and Zelda Williams join an array of industry heavyweights, including John Cusack and Tim Burton, who have spoken out against the use of AI in Hollywood since the strike began. Tim Burton went so far as to compare AI recreations to a loss of humanity and soul at the hands of robots.

The strike, affecting the 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA, aims to establish stricter regulations surrounding the use of AI in films and shows. The actors are critical of the possibility that AI tools could replace human performers and creative professionals in the industry. Protecting performers' digital likenesses and ensuring consent regarding their use is crucial to their demands.

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