Web3

AI's Dark Side: Exploring Fake Video Creation

TOKYO, Jun 18 (News On Japan) - The intense competition in generative AI technology raises concerns over misuse, such as the creation of fake videos. We explored this issue through AI video creation.

On June 17, a new PC model launch event was held in Tokyo, featuring the new ‘Copilot+PC’. This new model is equipped with AI, enhancing its processing capability up to 20 times compared to previous models. IT journalist Yo Mikami highlights the significance of this development, stating, ‘Until now, generative AI was hosted on servers, typically in the U.S. The shift is to bring AI directly to user devices.’

Mikami compares this innovation to having a personal assistant akin to Doraemon working solely for Nobita. Essentially, the AI operates independently on each user's device without needing an internet connection.

AI can now remember past user interactions on the computer and suggest related content accordingly. Additionally, it can complete drawings for users. ‘Even someone like me, who struggles with drawing, can create beautiful images,’ says newscaster Mirai Kaito, showcasing a picturesque sunset scene generated by the AI.

Moreover, when reading news scripts, the AI helps maintain a consistent forward-facing appearance, even if the reader's eyes move sideways.

Yohei Takeuchi, Executive Officer at Microsoft Japan, explains, ‘AI understands your environment and anticipates your needs, significantly improving work efficiency.’

While the AI technology race in the U.S. IT industry is intense, there are concerns about its potential misuse. To investigate this, newscaster Makoto Yamanaka sought assistance from Shinya Yamahara, CEO of AI Reskill, a company that supports AI video creation.

‘When speaking, consciously closing your mouth between sentences can greatly enhance the video quality,’ advises Yamahara.

Yamanaka recorded an ordinary introduction video, which was uploaded to the company’s server. This process requires verification to ensure that the person operating the screen matches the video content. This step is crucial to prevent fraud and unauthorized statements by AI avatars impersonating public figures.

In a specially crafted ‘misuse example’, Yamanaka's AI avatar delivers an unexpected message to fellow newscaster Naoya Kawata: ‘Kawata! You vented quite a bit the last time we went out for drinks. If you're feeling overwhelmed, I, AI Yamanaka, can always take over the show!’

Source: MBS

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

Japan Prepares for New Era of AI-Powered Cyberattacks

An advanced artificial intelligence model developed by U.S.-based AI startup Anthropic is raising alarm worldwide over the growing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks, with experts warning that financial systems and critical infrastructure could become targets if the technology falls into the wrong hands.