Tom Hanks Issues Warning Against AI Ads
Tom Hanks recently took to Instagram to address the issue of ads using his likeness with AI. Hanks said that multiple ads are, “using my name, likeness, and voice promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs,” adding that he didn’t give his consent for any of the ads, and that they were generated through artificial intelligence. Hanks has previously opened up about his experiences with type 2 diabetes and added that he only works with “my board certified doctor regarding my treatment.”
Preventative Measures By Hanks And The Government
In his statement, Tom Hanks went on urge his followers to exercise caution so they’re not duped out of their hard earned money from these AI ads.
To prevent incidents like the Tom Hanks ads, many state and federal legislators have started pushing for protections against AI misappropriating identities. For instance, Tennessee recently put a law in place that would protect individuals from the unauthorized use of content that uses their image or voice titled The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act.
Not Just Tom Hanks’ Likeness Being Used
Tom Hanks is far from the only celebrity whose likeness is being used through AI, as Taylor Swift, Drake, and others have had artificial intelligence-generated content made of them. Drake himself even used artificial intelligence to replicate 2Pac’s voice on a diss track directed at Kendrick Lamar. Taylor Swift most recently saw her likeness being used by presidential candidate Donald Trump when he posted a carousel of images of Swift on Truth Social, some of which appear to be generated through AI.
Trump posted “I accept!” as the caption to the picture, seemingly accepting an endorsement from Taylor Swift that doesn’t actually exist. One of the images depicted Swift as Uncle Sam saying, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.” While Tom Hanks’ AI troubles aren’t political at this time, this is becoming an increasingly common occurrence.
Tom Hanks’ Upcoming Films
While Tom Hanks is currently busy debunking fake AI medical ads using his likeness, we’ll get to see the real version of the actor on screen again later this year. Hanks’ next film is the anticipated Here, which reunites the director, writer, and star of Forrest Gump for a story about multiple generations of families inhabiting a house over the course of a century. Along with Hanks, the film stars Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, and Michelle Dockery and is set to hit theaters on November 1.
Hanks’ Return To Toy Story
Hanks will also presumably be reprising his role of Woody for Toy Story 5, which is set to come out in 2026. On the producing side of things, Tom Hanks re teamed with Steven Spielberg to make another companion series to their acclaimed war shows Band of Brothers and The Pacific with the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air. The ensemble cast included the likes of Austin Butler, Callum Turner, and Anthony Boyle and is currently available to stream on Apple TV+.
Don’t Believe The AI Lies
While we wait to see Tom Hanks return to the big screen, just keep in mind that anytime you see an ad of him online, it’s probably AI. Until the legalities around using artificial intelligence-generated voices and likenesses become clearer, this likely won’t be the last time a celebrity has to warn fans about false ads. And since these laws can sometimes take a while to form, there’s sure to be plenty more scam ads in the near future.
