Viral
‘Deepfake’ Tom Cruise Takes TikTok By Storm, And People Are Freaking Out
Deepfake Tom Cruise playing golf and tripping at the store.
Insanely believable video of Tom Cruise impostor set TikTok on fire as it hit 11 million views. Viewers were split between reality and technology as they watch videos of the fake Tom Cruise doing magic tricks. And it’s not just viewers; experts call these ‘Deepfake’ videos ‘most alarmingly lifelike examples’ of the Deepfake technology.
Is that Tom Cruise? These TikTok videos show him talking and performing magic tricks seamlessly.
“I want to show you some magic,” said the man before performing a simple magic trick on a coin.
The account, ‘deeptomcruise,’ seems to be hinting towards the deepfake technology involved in the making of these videos. Sam Gregory, the program director of ‘Witness’ sounds his concerns, “‘Seeing is no longer believing’ rhetoric undermines real video.”
Understandably, the motto of ‘Witness’ was to “use video and technology to protect and defend human rights.” Yet, these videos show accurately pointed out another problem Sam wants to raise awareness of: “Women are already being targeted by deepfakes.”
Seeing is no longer believing: it’s not Tom Cruise, but an AI playing with your eyes.
Ian Goodfellow pioneered the deepfake technology in 2014. The technology relies on machine learning, deep learning to create simulations on a real model. In other words, deepfake learns the motion, audio, and image, then simulates them onto a different model. It is a type of artificial intelligence, and this simulation process is repeated until it creates a believable result.
These videos were clearly made for entertainment purposes, showing the fake Tom Cruise doing golf, playing magic tricks, and even tripping on the floor. The videos that have been viewed more than 10 million time s have been turned private by the owner.
This may have been in relation to TikTok’s policy regarding impersonation:
“You may not: […] impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent you or your affiliation with any person or entity, including giving the impression that any content you upload, post, transmit, distribute or otherwise make available emanates from the Services.”
TikTok
Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley who specializes in the analysis of digital images, told Fortune he is convinced that the videos are deepfakes but that they are “incredibly well done.”
Unbelievably way too similar to the real one.
“What’s up TikTok, you guys cool if I play some sports,” said the man in the video before shooting his shot on the field. “Hey listen up sports and TikTok fans, if you like what you are seeing just wait until what’s coming next.”
