The Limits of AI: When Technology Rewrites the Past

This week, a video went viral in which a performance by rapper Lil Yachty was replaced with Joaquin Phoenix’s iconic portrayal of The Joker. The deepfake was created by a user known as A.I Warper, utilizing the new AI tool, Viggle AI, which, according to its official website, is the first video 3D base model “with an actual understanding of physics.”

A few days later, someone used the same footage to make Adolf Hitler appear to dance wildly. The audio was swapped for the German march song “Erika,” also known by its opening line, “Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein.” This song was employed by the Nazi regime to convey a love for the fatherland.

This brings to mind a blog post I previously published (see: https://lnkd.in/e5RCeB3b) about an AI-translated speech by Hitler that went viral on social media. It resulted in viewers developing sympathy for him. I wrote then, “Manipulating historical recordings and voices puts us on thin ice, where the authenticity and impact of original sources are compromised. By repackaging such figures in a new, ‘more accessible’ light, we risk underestimating the gravity and complexity of their crimes. AI-generated voices and vivid images may soften the harsh reality of their messages, leading viewers to a distorted view of history.”

My opinion on this has not changed. The use of advanced technologies like AI in manipulating historical footage must be approached with utmost care and ethical consideration. There is a risk that such manipulations not only distort the truth but also blur the memory of and the lessons from the past. We must remain vigilant and set clear boundaries to prevent our history from becoming a playground for digital experiments.