Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you drugs. The actor posted a statement on Instagram late Thursday, warning fans about online ads promoting “miracle cures and wonder drugs” that feature an AI-generated voice impersonation of the actor without his consent.
“There are numerous online ads that falsely use my name, likeness and voice to promote miracle cures and wonder drugs,” Hanks wrote in the post, titled “Public Service Announcement.” “These ads were created without my consent, fraudulently and through artificial intelligence.”
“I have no connection to these publications, productions, treatments, or the spokespersons promoting these treatments,” the actor continued. “I have type 2 diabetes, and I only work with my licensed physician regarding my treatment. Don’t be fooled. Don’t be fooled. Don’t lose your hard-earned money.
This isn’t the first time the actor has warned others about ads that use AI-generated versions of his image to advertise less-than-realistic services. Last October, Hanks shared a similar warning on Instagram about a promotional video that used a deep imitation of the actor to promote a dental plan.
“BEWARE!!” Hanks began the post, using all caps as a warning at the time as well. “There’s a video promoting a dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”
In the absence of government regulations in the United States, unauthorized deepfake videos have become a growing source of misinformation online and continue to pose reputational risks to public figures who can be imitated.
