The real risks associated with Artificial Intelligence cannot be denied. Although some view AI as a remarkable creation in this modern era, it undeniably presents significant challenges that are difficult to address.
Privacy issues, security vulnerabilities, and the potential for existential threats are just a few examples. The recent deepfake video featuring Rashmika Mandanna serves as a stark illustration of AI’s serious downsides.
It was British-Indian influencer Zara Patel whose video served as the source material for creating a deepfake featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna.
A short while back, a deepfake video starring Rashmika Mandanna went viral across numerous social media platforms. The video was crafted with such precision that initially, it was nearly impossible to discern its artificial nature. Moreover, describing the speed of its dissemination as “spreading like wildfire” would be a significant understatement.
The video, in fact, features a British-Indian influencer by the name of Zara Patel. In this deepfake video, Patel’s appearance has been flawlessly altered to resemble Rashmika Mandanna as she enters an elevator. The source of this deepfake video has not been revealed. Patel’s original video, which she initially shared on Instagram in October, serves as the basis for comparison.
Here have a look:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyJioNOJtoS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Zara Patel has at last broke her silence on the issue.
Zara Patel, the British-Indian woman who found herself at the center of a manipulated viral deepfake video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna, shared her deep concern regarding the incident. She took to her Instagram story to confirm that she had absolutely no role in the creation of the deepfake and was genuinely disturbed and distressed by its circulation.
In her own words, she wrote:
“Hi all, it has come to my attention that someone created a deepfake video using my body and a popular Bollywood actress’s face. I had no involvement with the deepfake video, and I’m deeply disturbed and upset by what is happening”
She further emphasized the importance of exercising caution and verifying the authenticity of content before sharing, by stating:
“I worry about the future of women and girls who now have to fear even more about putting themselves on social media. Please take a step back and fact-check what you see on the internet. Not everything on the internet is real. I’m deeply upset by what is happening.”
On November 6th, Rashmika Mandanna utilized her presence on X (formerly known as Twitter) to voice her concern about the deepfake video.
She addressed the matter by tagging the cyber police in her tweet, expressing her distress with these words:
“I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online. Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused.”
She also went on to highlight the challenges she would have faced if she were a student in a school or college, stating:
“Today, as a woman and as an actor, I am thankful for my family, friends and well wishers who are my protection and support system. But if this happened to me when I was in school or college, I genuinely can’t imagine how could I ever tackle this.”
She concluded by writing,
“We need to address this as a community and with urgency before more of us are affected by such identity theft. “
What are your perspectives on this issue and the potentially harmful aspects of AI? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below
