Scarlett Johansson Warns: "We Risk Losing A Hold on Reality" After AI-Generated Video Condemning Kanye West Goes Viral

Scarlett Johansson has once again spoken out against the misuse of artificial intelligence after an AI-generated video went viral, featuring a fake version of the actress alongside other celebrities condemning Kanye West’s latest antisemitic tweets. While Johansson made it clear she has "no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind," she also made it known that she is not okay with the use of AI-generated content.

"I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it," Johansson said in her statement. "We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality."

So, just because someone is trying to use AI for a "good cause,” it really doesn’t mean it won’t be wielded for something far worse tomorrow. We’ve already witnessed countless artists, actors, and writers who’ve had their work, voices, and faces lifted without consent.

Johansson also called out the lack of AI regulation. "There is a 1000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner," she warned. "It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI."

Johansson has been one of the most high-profile voices against AI exploitation for years, and not just because of this latest controversy. She’s been battling AI’s unauthorized use of her likeness for a while now – most notably when OpenAI used a voice eerily similar to hers for its chatbot, Sky, in 2024.

"When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered, and in disbelief that [OpenAI CEO Sam Altman] would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference," she said at the time. After her legal team got involved, OpenAI finally removed the voice.  

There was another AI-generated ad in 2023 that used her likeness to sell an image-editing app. Or, more broadly, the countless sexual deepfake videos floating around online featuring celebrities in compromised situations they never consented to.

Johansson continues to speak out against AI: "I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large."

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