Will Smith's amusing retort amidst an AI uproar is commendable
Will Smith has addressed the controversy surrounding his AI-generated concert video with a humorous response video posted on his Instagram account. The original video, intended as a comeback, was criticized for faking a crowd, with the audience composed entirely of computer-generated cats.
In the response video, Smith is seen performing with sunglasses on, a wry nod to his blunder. The low quality of the deepfakes in the video is intentionally humorous, serving as a light-hearted approach to mitigate the negative impact of the controversy. However, the video does not directly address the issue of faking a crowd in the original video.
The video production involved AI-generated audience footage, with Smith's team using generative video models such as Runway or Veo 3 to animate audience photos taken by official tour photographers, rather than creating entirely new footage. This incident uncovers a pattern of brands choosing AI over skilled video editors, a concern for the further rollout of AI in different applications.
The response video is seen as a humorous approach by most of the general public, a PR move to save face in certain situations. However, a test for detecting AI in a video has been suggested, and the video does not present AI in a positive light. The mistake of using AI instead of a skilled video editor is concerning, raising questions about the future of AI in the creative industry.
The incident has sparked discussions within the creative community, with some feeling that the video does not go far enough. Nonetheless, Smith's response video serves as a reminder that even in the face of controversy, humour can be a powerful tool for damage control.
