Jake Paul responds to deepfake coming-out clips as AI-generated celeb videos go viral

Videos of YouTuber Jake Paul coming out as gay and have been going viral, but they aren't real. In fact, they're deepfake videos of the YouTuber, created using AI.

In the deepfake clip, 'Jake' says: “Feels good to finally breathe and be myself.” Other deepfake videos show him in a pink ballet costume, with a full face of make-up and even speaking Arabic.

In a TikTok video captioned “AI is getting out of hand”, the 28-year-old told his followers: “It’s honestly not even a joke,” but playing into the joke, he spoke in a camp tone when a friend asked him if he wanted a Celsius drink.

In a second video, the YouTuber shared a moment with his fiancée Jutta Leerdam, where she said: “I don’t like it, it’s not funny,” insisting that some people do actually believe everything that gets published on the internet.

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Even his followers have taken to social media to discuss the matter, with one saying: “I still can’t believe I got fooled by an AI Jake Paul video, it’s soooooo over man.” A second one wrote: “AI Jake Paul is going viral on tiktok and it’s terrifyingly realistic.”

A second one commented: The videos I’ve been seeing online made by the new Sora AI are genuinely concerning. I used to find it easy to differentiate AI videos and photos from real ones. But now, there’s a very high chance we will get scammed by these sooner or even when we’re older. We are cooked, like this is literally Jake Paul, and I had to find out from the comments that it’s AI.”

What are deepfake videos?

If you’re not familiar with the term, deepfakes are videos, pictures, or audio clips created using artificial intelligence. Users have been turning to an OpenAI app called Sora to create the AI-generated videos.

Although they're only for entertainment purposes, they've also been used by people with malicious intentions or to spread false information.

However, OpenAI has made its policiesvery clear about the prohibition of manipulating someone's image without the person's consent. "You may not edit images or videos that depict any real individual without their explicit consent," its site read.

"You may not create images or videos as means to impersonate, harass, intimidate, or otherwise harm the depicted individual or perpetrate fraud against others."

Users can report any content that violates OpenAI/Sora's terms here.

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How to spot deepfake videos online

Following the viral Jake Paul clips, TikToker @showtoolsai shared some tips and tricks on how to spot AI-generated videos. He explained: “Jake Paul has a Sora account, and his settings let anyone deepfake him.”

Despite OpenAI's strict policies of not editing images or videos that depict any real individual without their consent, this can all change depending on your settings. Using a concept called "cameo", users can choose who has the access to make images or videos using your image.

Explaining the different ways to spot a deepfake video, the TikToker said to look for the Sora watermark, although he warned that it could also get removed.

He further explained: “You should know that Sora has noise and AI artefacts. Sora's noise is really visible in his hair in these videos. Look at how his hair dances around. It’s like a static effect. The static is everything, but is most visible in textures like hair.”

The TikToker also encouraged people to confirm whether the person who posted the video is trustworthy, and to be sceptical of reposts.

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