[The story below from Forbes, and the excerpts of other coverage that follow it, are a vivid illustration of the complicated promise and peril of presence-evoking artificial intelligence. The viral AI deepfake video is available via a Lead Story “hoax alert.” See also Rolling Stone’s recent story “How Celebrities Are Fighting AI Deepfakes of Themselves. The founder and CEO of a ‘likeness protection company’ explains what can be done about unwanted digital doppelgängers.” –Matthew]

[Image: Source: CNN]

Inside The Viral AI Video Of Celebrities Blasting Ye’s Antisemitic Remarks

By Leslie Katz, Senior Contributor
February 13, 2025; Updated February 14, 2025

In a dramatic video making the rounds on social media, more than a dozen Jewish celebrities condemn artist Ye for his most recent barrage of antisemitic remarks. Or so it seems. It turns out the video is AI-generated, though some argue that doesn’t make its message any less important or powerful.

“For those who can’t tell, this video is AI generated, but it’s still amazing,” writer and entrepreneur Ed Krassenstein wrote after sharing the black and white video with his 1 million X followers on Tuesday. “The world needs to see this,” he said.

The video shows celebrities including Sacha Baron Cohen, Drake, Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis, Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, Ben Stiller and Mark Zuckerberg wearing the same white T-shirt featuring the back of a hand with a Jewish star on it, a middle finger raised. The name Kanye appears underneath the hand, making it abundantly clear who’s being flipped off. A real version of that shirt is now selling in various colors online.

In the video, the Jewish folk song “Hava Nagila” plays in the background, and at the end, a message flashes across the screen. “Enough is enough,” it reads. “Join the fight against antisemitism.” The video comes amid a disturbing global increase in antisemitism.

Who’s Behind The Video?

The video is the work of Guy Bar and Ori Bejerano, digital marketers who work for Israel-based creative agency Gitam BBDO — Bar as its chief innovation officer and Bejerano as a generative-AI expert.

“It’s time to stop being silent and respond to antisemites like Kanye West in the strongest way possible,” Bejerano wrote on Instagram post when sharing the spot. “It’s forbidden to continue to make Kanye West a sensation and a gimmick — he is dangerous, and it’s time he was treated as such.” A message next to the fake video states that it’s made with the help of artificial intelligence.

Ye’s talent agency dropped him as a client this week after a series of antisemitic rants he posted online over several days. “I’m a Nazi,” Ye said on X over the weekend. The rapper and designer, who has a history of antisemitic comments, also said he’ll never apologize for comments made about Jews, though he did issue a public apology in 2023.

Ye also briefly sold T-shirts bearing a swastika, the Nazi Party symbol as the single item on his fashion brand’s website yeezy.com. E-commerce platform Shopify has taken the website down, saying on Tuesday that Ye violated its terms.

The AI-generated video responding to Ye’s behavior has been viewed many millions of times online, with the reaction far surpassing the creators’ expectations.

“We believe this is because it touches the exposed nerves of millions of people — people who are tired of violence, racism, antisemitism,” Bar wrote in a translated LinkedIn post in which he answers frequent questions about the project. “In the end, the video was just the match that ignited a fire that had been waiting to burn for a long time.”

The pair chose the featured figures both because they are Jewish and because they are “part of Kanye West’s social and cultural environment, part of his world,” according to Bar. They intentionally chose understated visuals as a counterpoint to Ye’s provocative style.

But Is AI The Right Messenger?

While the video has grabbed attention for its message — “Love it,” actor Billy Baldwin responded on X. “Support 100 percent” — it’s also sparked controversy for being made with artificial intelligence. Johansson, for one, denounced the video, calling for a ban on deepfakes.

“I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind,” Johansson said in a statement to media outlets. “But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.”

Neither Bar nor Bejerano responded to a request for comment on whether they’d heard directly from any of those featured in the video. They made the video without the consent of the celebrities involved, Yahoo News reports.

On LinkedIn, Bar said he respects Johansson’s position and the larger debate about the responsible use of AI.

“There is no doubt that this technology poses ethical challenges, and these types of discussions are important and necessary,” Bar wrote. “At the same time, it is important to clarify: The video is not commercial but rather an artistic and cultural statement intended to deal with the alarming rise in antisemitism. Throughout history, art, satire and stories have been powerful weapons in the struggle for social justice. Artificial intelligence is just the new tool that makes it possible to convey these messages.”

Antisemitism has reached a tipping point in America, American Jewish Committee Ted Deutch said when the AJC released its 2024 annual State of Antisemitism in America report on Wednesday. “That one-third of American Jews have been the target of antisemitism in the past year should raise red flags for every American and our leaders.” More than 56% of American Jews polled for the report said they had changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism.

In the same report, the AJC, which advocates for Jewish people worldwide, said that as AI grows, roughly half of American Jews polled do not trust companies that use the technology to protect their products or platforms from antisemitism or misinformation about Jews.

—

[From People]

Scarlett Johansson Urges Government to Limit A.I. After Faked Video of Her Opposing Kanye West Goes Viral

“It is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large,” the actress wrote

By Lawrence Yee
February 12, 2025

[snip]

In a statement to PEOPLE, Johansson denounced what she called “the misuse of A.I., no matter what its messaging.”

She continued, “It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an A.I.-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction. I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by A.I. is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.”

“I have unfortunately been a very public victim of A.I.,” she said, “but the truth is that the threat of A.I. affects each and every one of us.”

“There is a 1000-foot wave coming regarding A.I. that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of A.I.”

The statement concluded, “I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting A.I. use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”

West, 47, was not named in her statement.

[snip]

This isn’t the first time Johasson’s been the victim of an A.I. fake. In November 2023, the actress threatened legal action against a company after it used her A.I. likeness without her permission for an ad that was consequently removed.

Then in May 2024, she was “angered” and “shocked” to hear a voice “eerily similar” to her own as the “voice” of OpenA.I.’s ChatGPT” system, called Sky.

“In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected,” she shared at the time.

—

[From BBC News]

Scarlett Johansson warns of ‘AI misuse’ after fake Kanye video

By Paul Glynn, Culture reporter
February 13, 2025

[snip]

Writing in the Jewish Chronicle, Nicole Lampert said “it was was thrilling to see Jewish stars standing up to Kanye West – if only they had really done it”.

“A viral video of the campaign, which transpired to be AI-generated, only serves to highlight the deafening silence of the celebrity class.”

The issue comes as new figures from the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority suggest fake adverts featuring celebrities and public figures remain the most common type of scam adverts appearing online.

—

[From CNN]

Scarlett Johansson calls for AI laws after fake video of celebrities condemning Kanye West’s antisemitism goes viral

By Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN
February 13, 2025

[snip]

Hen Mazzig, co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute, an organization that works to combat Jewish hate and misinformation across social media, weighed in on the AI video.

“Misusing AI is dangerous, no doubt,” Mazzig wrote on X. “But you know what’s even more dangerous? Unchecked antisemitic hate being platformed to millions every single day.”