Tom Hanks Warns Fans of AI Ads Using His Likeness: ‘Don’t Be Fooled’

Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you drugs. The actor shared a statement on Instagram, warning fans about online ads promoting “miracle cures and wonder drugs” that feature an AI-generated vocal impersonation of him without his consent.

“There are multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness and voice promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs. These ads have been created without my consent, fraudulently and through AI,” Hanks wrote in the post, titled as a “public service announcement.”

“I have nothing to do with these posts or the productions and treatments, or the spokespeople touting these cures,” the actor continued. “I have type 2 diabetes, and I ONLY work with my board-certified doctor regarding my treatment. DO NOT BE FOOLED. DO NOT BE SWINDLED. DO NOT LOSE YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY.”

It’s not the first time that the actor has warned others about ads that use AI-generated versions of his likeness to advertise less-than-veritable services. Last October, Hanks shared a similar warning on Instagram about a promotional video that used a deepfake of the actor to promote a dental plan.

“BEWARE!!” Hanks began in that post, pulling out the all-caps warning in that instance too. “There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”

Without government regulations in the United States, unauthorized deepfakes have become a rising source of misinformation on the internet and continue to pose risks to the reputations of public figures who could be imitated.

Source: source names