An AI-generated film that claimed to have obtained permission from a famous actress has sparked major controversy after the actress’ side firmly denied any knowledge drawing attention to serious deepfake concerns. The actress in the center is Yeom Hye-ran. When media investigations began, the video in question was suddenly set to private.
The film about artificial intelligence, entitled The meter readerfeatures a digitally recreated version of Yeom Hye-ran as the main character. From subtle facial expressions and eye movements to gestures and even voice, the portrayal was so detailed that it strongly resembled the real actress.
Reactions online quickly poured in, with viewers expressing shock at the hyper-realistic depiction. Comments like “It’s strangely identical,” “I thought Yeom Hye-ran actually acted in this,” AND “Has generative AI advanced this far?” highlighted the viral attention surrounding the video.
Although the creators said the project was made with permission to use Yeom Hye-ran’s likeness, both the actress and her agency said they were completely unaware of the video’s existence and expressed confusion and discomfort.
On March 31, his agency Ace Factory told Sports DongA in a telephone interview that the claim of having obtained consent was true “completely false”, adding that they would “request immediate removal” of the content.
Following the agency’s quick response, the controversial The meter reader the video has now been set to private. The agency stressed that, beyond the unauthorized use of the images, the false claim that the actress had approved it is a serious problem and they are currently considering legal action.
This controversy is seen as a real-world example of the risks associated with the rapid spread of generative AI in content production. Both industry insiders and netizens expect the case to have significant repercussions. One source noted, “This incident clearly highlights both the explosive impact of deepfake technology and the inherent dangers that lie behind it.”
Meanwhile, Yeom Hye-ran is preparing for the release of her next film My namedirected by Jung Ji-young, which will premiere on April 15.
Sources: Nate
