Tom Hanks Warns Fans About AI-Generated Ads Using His Likeness to Sell “Wonder Drugs”

Tom Hanks Warns Fans About AI-Generated Ads Using His Likeness to Sell “Wonder Drugs”

As a long-time fan of Tom Hanks and his remarkable career spanning decades, it’s disheartening to see such blatant misuse of his identity for financial gain. It’s not just unethical, but also heartbreaking to witness such a beloved figure being exploited in this manner.


Tom Hanks warned fans about AI-generated ads featuring his likeness to sell “wonder drugs.”

“The actor stated that numerous online advertisements, claiming to be endorsed by him, are spreading false information about miraculous treatments and magical medicines. He clarified that these advertisements were produced without his approval, deceptively, and using artificial intelligence.”

Tom Hanks clarified that he is not associated with those social media posts, the merchandise, or the suggested remedies and endorsers promoting such treatments. As a person living with Type 2 diabetes, I strictly adhere to the advice of my certified medical professional when it comes to managing my health.

The main character from the movie “Forrest Gump” urged fans to stay cautious, avoid being tricked or cheated, and to safeguard their earned savings.

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A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks)

It’s not the first occasion where someone has exploited Tom Hanks’ image for advertising purposes. In October 2023, he cautioned his Instagram followers about a fake ad, stating, “Beware! There’s a video circulating that promotes some dental plan, featuring an AI imitation of me. I have no association with it.”

Not just Hanks, other celebrities have also been impacted by advertisements created using artificial intelligence. Last year, a false ad showcasing a simulated Luke Combs endorsing “miracle” weight loss candies circulated on social media platforms. A voice resembling Combs’s spoke in the ad, saying, “I was at my lowest point, but then God sent me these miracle root gummies. My good friend Lainey Wilson had suggested them to me.” The voice was actually artificially generated.

Piers Morgan, Nigella Lawson, and Oprah Winfrey are among those who have been deceived by artificial intelligence. Recently, advertisements for a manifestation course called “Genie Script” misled people by using authentic footage with fabricated dialogue. In one of these ads, a falsified version of Oprah is heard saying, “I’d like to give you a 20-word script… think of it as installing a new software system in your mind designed to make you wealthy.”

Previously, Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against a company known as Lisa AI, claiming they had improperly used her likeness and voice in an advertisement promoting their deepfake technology capabilities. More recently, she called upon legal representation after asserting that Sam Altman had misused her voice during the demonstration of OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT 40 model generation. However, Open AI has maintained that the voice used was not a Johansson-created deepfake. As a result, they temporarily removed it from their platform.

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2024-08-30 22:56