Will Smith has responded to the backlash for his recent AI-generated concert video by sharing another AI clip – check it out below.
The rapper and actor recently wrapped up his tour in support of ‘Based On A True Story’ – his first studio album in 20 years, which came out in March. Last week, a video Smith shared on YouTube, showing highlights of the tour, made headlines as it appears some clips included had been made with AI.
Shots of audience members, many of whom are crying, were called into question as they appeared to have blurred or distorted faces, while others appear to have oddly shaped hands or excess fingers. This went viral, with many criticising the actor for having to artificially alter his crowds.
Now, Smith has responded to the original video by posting yet another AI clip on social media. This time, the clip pokes fun at the people who complained about the fake-looking audience, swapping out several human heads for cat heads entirely.
Check out the clip below.
Smith has yet to formally address the accusations of digitally altering the concert video with AI. Green Day mocked the rapper-actor last week, sharing a video from one of the recent shows on their South American tour, showing fans at the barrier near the stage singing along to ‘Basket Case’. The video was shared alongside the caption: “Don’t need AI for our crowds 😜.”
It comes during a period of controversy for AI technology in the music industry, with a recent study sharing the stark warning that people working in music are likely to lose a quarter of their income to Artificial Intelligence over the next four years.
Deezer also reported that around 10,000 AI-generated tracks are submitted to the platform daily – making up around 10 per cent of all its music uploads, and it has also emerged that AI-generated songs are reportedly being uploaded to dead musicians’ profiles on Spotify.
Meanwhile, Elton John, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney, Florence Welch, Kate Bush and Robbie Williams are among those who this year called on the UK government to change copyright laws amid the threat from AI.
Elsewhere, SZA has hit out at AI users for being “codependent on a machine”, and James Cameron has revealed he is worried that the technology could lead to a real-life version of his film The Terminator.
In other Will Smith news, Michael Bay has left his position as director on the Smith’s film Fast And Loose, with creative differences being given as the reason.
