HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – No, it didn’t snow in Waikiki. But an app that uses artificial intelligence made it look like it did, and that I was standing in it.
Another AI-generated video showed me about to ride a skateboard at a Skyline station platform.
“Anyone can create these deep-fakes or fun videos of literally anything they want,” said AI consultant and teacher Gabriel Yanagihara, who made the videos of me using Veo.
He’s also used the app Sora to come up with videos like a Hawaiian monk seal bouncing on a trampoline, or fake graduation lei of materials like octopus or centipedes.
“Right now you can really tell when something is AI-generated, mostly because the people, the way they use it is to illustrate the absurd,” Yanagihara said.
Longtime content creator coach Shawn Boyd has also been having with Sora. One video has him appearing to be a member of the Las Vegas Raiders on the sidelines of a game.
Boyd also sees AI technology improving public safety by visualizing data from tsunami buoys or incoming tropical cyclones.
“If you can physically show them what this will look like once it rages through Waimanalo, maybe people will pay attention and they’ll get out of there, or they’ll be prepped better,” Boyd said.
Unfortunately, AI tools have also been used to manipulate videos of public figures and to trick people into thinking their loved ones will be harmed unless they send money.
“We have to be really aware and really critical of the kind media we’re consuming because we now know that anything can be faked,” Yanagihara said.
The one thing I say families should take away from this is to have some sort of code word or check phrase that you do with loved ones if yo see of video of them calling you, asking for money or for a social security number or something like that,” he added.
International groups are now working to develop ethnical guidelines for AI. Organizations like the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Digital Promise are helping schools teach AI literacy. And the U.S. Congress is moving closer to mandated public awareness campaigns.
“Having valid sources of information that you back to, and you second-guess and you double-check your sources and everything, is going to be something we’re going to have to develop,” Yanagihara said.
For now, it’s a creative outlet for people like Yanagihara.
“It shows that we have a lot of talent here in Hawaii and we don’t necessarily need a huge multi-million-dollar budget to kind a bring those stories to life.”
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