I’m really worried about AI video clones

These tools allow any YouTuber for example (or anyone for that matter), to make a realistic video clone of themselves that will narrate any kind of script.

This is a bit more problematic than the general problem with deepfakes.

Deepfakes are typically made of other people for nefarious purposes and without their permission. So, if a person uploaded their videos of their own volition on their own channel, you’d guess it’s safe to say that the video is authentic and not deepfake.

Well, it doesn’t have to be the case. They can make their own deepfakes, simply because they are too lazy to make a real video and it’s easier to have their AI clone narrate the script.

The AI clones can match their tone of voice, mannerisms, etc…

Of course, the person in question doesn’t even have to write the script for the AI clone to narrate. They can delegate this too, to ChatGPT.

Now, you might say, but if I’m familiar with a YouTuber, if I know them, I can know if the video is real or not.

But this doesn’t have to mean anything. A YouTuber who started with their own real videos, might at some point switch to using their AI clone without you even noticing.

So, from the perspective of consumer, what should we do?

Like stop watching content online? Assume that everything we see is AI?

Or perhaps not worry about that at all, and just focus on the content and message, and not care at all how it was made?

But with proliferation of low quality sloppy videos, the incentive to watch anything diminishes.

And what if this improves a lot in the future, and AI stops producing slop and starts making high quality stuff? Would it then make sense to watch videos?

Perhaps. But then you can make the same stuff on your own, using your prompts, why would you watch what other people make?

Of course it doesn’t have to be that bad, I’m focusing on worst case scenario and exaggerating a bit. But I think I’m asking some valid questions.

P.S. On the positive side AI video clones might help some shy YouTubers make videos if they get very nervous in front of camera. They can still write the script on their own, and just let the AI clone read it instead of themselves.