AI controversy surrounds Will Smith’s comeback shows
Viewers spotted distorted faces and extra fingers in Will Smith’s tour footage, sparking speculation that AI had been used to alter the crowd.
Footage from Will Smith’s comeback tour has sparked claims that AI was used to alter shots of the crowd. Viewers noticed faces appearing blurred or distorted, along with extra fingers and oddly shaped hands in several clips.
Some accused Smith of boosting audience shots with AI, while others pointed to YouTube, which has been reported to apply AI upscaling without creators’ knowledge.
Guitarist and YouTuber Rhett Shull recently suggested the platform had altered his videos, raising concerns that artists might be wrongly accused of using deepfakes.
The controversy comes as the boundary between reality and fabrication grows increasingly uncertain. AI has been reshaping how audiences perceive authenticity, from fake bands to fabricated images of music legends.
Singer SZA is among the artists criticising the technology, highlighting its heavy energy use and potential to undermine creativity.
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