Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has issued a strong statement following the release of a controversial video that utilized artificial intelligence to manipulate her likeness without permission. The video, which also featured AI-generated representations of celebrities such as Jack Black, Mila Kunis, Drake, Steven Spielberg, and Adam Sandler, portrayed these figures protesting against Kanye West’s recent antisemitic remarks.
In the video, the manipulated images of these celebrities are shown wearing t-shirts adorned with the Star of David alongside a finger-pointing symbol, beneath which the word “Kanye” is inscribed. The video closes with AI-generated text reading “Enough” and urging viewers to “Join the fight against antisemitism.”
Expressing her disapproval, Johansson denounced this unauthorized use of her image, emphasizing her opposition to any form of hate speech. She highlighted the significant risk posed by the spread of hate speech through artificial intelligence, stressing the need to curb the misuse of AI technology to prevent a departure from reality. As a Jewish woman, Johansson stated her zero tolerance for hate speech and recognized the dangers AI presents in amplifying such rhetoric.
Johansson has called on the U.S. government to address this issue promptly and implement legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence. Her advocacy against AI misuse is not new; she has previously taken legal action against unauthorized use of her likeness, including a lawsuit against an app in November 2023.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding the potential for AI to be exploited for unethical purposes, prompting renewed calls for stringent regulations and oversight in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence technology.
