A video of him rapping Mona Lisa is going viral on social media. Now, if you're wondering how that's possible, it's all thanks to Microsoft's newly announced artificial intelligence technology called his VASA-1. With the help of this new AI, a photo of someone's face and a short clip of their voice can be turned into a lifelike video using a computer.
In a video circulating on social media, a painting of Mona Lisa is seen singing a rap that Anne Hathaway wrote in 2011 and performed on Conan O'Brien's talk show. In the video, you can see her painting's mouth, eyes, and face move. Paparazzi. Another of Microsoft's video clips that has gone viral on social media features avatars singing, while other video clips generated from real photos feature people talking about mundane topics.
These viral videos have divided the internet. While some people enjoy this creativity, others fear that it could become a threat if it falls into the wrong hands.
However, Microsoft researchers cited the risks of the new technology and said they would not release online demos or products until they were sure the technology would be used responsibly and in accordance with appropriate regulations.
The researchers clarified that the technology was not intended to create misleading or deceptive content. However, they acknowledged that it could be misused to impersonate humans. They oppose the creation of misleading or harmful content based on real people, and are interested in using their technology to improve counterfeit detection.
Despite recognizing the potential for abuse, the researchers emphasized that the technology is having a significant positive impact. They highlighted benefits such as promoting educational equity, increasing accessibility for individuals with communication difficulties, and providing companionship and therapeutic support. They are committed to developing AI responsibly to advance human well-being.
The latest advances in AI come as governments around the world work to regulate the technology and prevent criminal misuse. An example of this is deepfake porn. Deepfake pornography involves digitally placing an individual's face into an explicit image or video without their consent. Although some US states have laws against deepfakes, there is no federal law, and several bills have been proposed in Congress to address the issue.
