Viewers Report AI-Generated Celebrity Ads on Streaming Platforms

Viewers of streaming services HBO Max and Tubi have reported seeing advertisements that appear to utilize AI-generated images of well-known actors, including Sterling K. Brown, Kerry Washington, Anna Kendrick, Taraji P. Henson, and Luis Guzman. The advertisements are promoting an online casino app called Tang Luck.

Observations shared online claim that the ads feature likenesses of unidentified individuals that strongly resemble famous personalities without their consent. According to these posts, these commercials have appeared on both Tubi and HBO Max.

It remains unclear whether the ads violate the streaming platforms' advertising policies. Both Tubi and HBO Max did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the publication. The developer of the Tang Luck app, Hong Kong-based SpinShift Limited, has also not confirmed any partnerships with the mentioned actors.

Public concern regarding the use of AI in advertising has been noted. A recent survey by Gallup and Bentley University indicated that nearly 80 percent of Americans have encountered ads that "looked like they were made using AI" in the past month. Half of the survey respondents expressed negative sentiment towards businesses' use of AI in advertising.