A fake video depicting Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida making vulgar statements has caused widespread outrage after it circulated on social media. The video, which was created using generative artificial intelligence, has been labeled a malicious manipulation by experts. In the AI-generated video, an image of Kishida appears in a suit and speaks directly to the camera, giving the impression of a live TV appearance. The video was initially posted on video-sharing sites and gained significant attention, with over 2.3 million views in a short span of time.
The individual responsible for creating and posting the AI-generated video is a 25-year-old man from Osaka Prefecture. He claimed that he used various videos of the prime minister, including press conferences and speeches, to train the AI to reproduce Kishida’s voice. He altered his own voice using a voice-changing function and adjusted Kishida’s mouth movements to match the altered voice. The entire process took him approximately an hour.
The man admitted that his intention was not to cause confusion but rather to make people laugh through satire. However, Nippon Television Network Corp. expressed its disappointment and stated that it would take appropriate action if necessary. The unauthorized use of the network’s content and logo is deemed unacceptable.
The incident has raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology. With its ability to quickly analyze large amounts of data, AI could be used to generate misinformation and spread false statements, potentially leading to defamation. Tokyo Institute of Technology Associate Prof. Kazutoshi Sasahara, an expert on computational social science and AI-generated fake videos, emphasized the need for educating viewers on how to identify fake videos. He also called for websites and platforms to implement countermeasures against the spread of such content.
Furthermore, the Copyright Law in Japan allows AI to learn from copyrighted works without consent, a provision that has drawn criticism from copyright holders. The fear is that AI’s rapid progress and data analysis capabilities could exacerbate the problem of misinformation and manipulation.
In conclusion, the circulation of an AI-generated video depicting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida making vulgar statements has sparked controversy and outrage. Experts have highlighted the malicious nature of such manipulations and the potential for AI to generate misinformation. Efforts to educate viewers and implement countermeasures are crucial in addressing this issue, while copyright laws may need to be revisited to prevent the unauthorized use of copyrighted works by AI.
