Will Smith has been accused of sharing a video from his current summer tour that heavily uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create footage of his adoring fans. The 10-minute clip, titled “My favourite part of tour is seeing you all up close,” was shared on his official YouTube channel ahead of the UK leg of his Based on a True Story tour.
Footage from the video shows audience members with distorted faces, blurred limbs, and extra digits. Fans have called out Smith’s representatives for using AI to create fake crowds, citing inconsistencies in the footage that suggest it is not genuine.
Some shots show audience members crying and waving homemade signs, while others appear to have six fingers or other unusual features. The video also seems to blur or distort certain parts of people’s bodies, such as their hands or knuckles.
The Independent has contacted Smith’s representatives for comment. Fans are criticizing the use of AI in the video, calling it “embarrassing” and questioning why Smith would abandon quality work for a degraded slop.
AI is a contentious topic in the music industry, with many artists calling for better protections of their work. Earlier this month, English rocker Rod Stewart was criticized for using AI-generated images to pay tribute to late Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne during one of his shows.
Smith’s UK tour continues tonight in Cardiff, before he plays shows in Manchester, London, and Wolverhampton.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/will-smith-ai-fans-youtube-tour-tickets-b2814009.html