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There’s a new viral pastime on the interwebs: remaking scenes from iconic media replacing the original performer with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Computer gurus use artificial intelligence (AI) to create these minor masterpieces. His voice and likeness have replaced Michael Jackson in the “Thriller” video, Whitney Houston in “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and even Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. The most outrageous, complicated short has him as both Elaine and the tyrannical chef in the episode of Seinfeld whose title must not be spoken. But you know the episode. The one with soup. (I never watched that show and even I know that ubiquitous reference!)
It’s all hilarious, especially when Mr. Schwarzenegger appears to be in drag.
Meanwhile, I can’t look at social media for more than a minute without coming across another “Karen” video. You know what I mean. Unskilled performers who know each other act out scenes in which the white woman behaves with mortifying entitlement. They’re so fake they make me groan, every time. Then again, I’m sure there are people convinced that they’re real. Maybe some of them ARE real!
That’s terrifying.
I mean, what happens next year, when the presidential campaign is in full swing, and people are out there making videos of themselves behaving badly then simply substituting themselves with the candidates? Who would know the difference?
How will we know the difference?
Honestly, when I started thinking about all this back in April and May, it scared the stuffing out of me. What if somebody used MY voice and image to create a video or voice recording to scam you all? It scared me so much I didn’t want to make videos any more.
Did you notice I didn’t post any invitations to services on Facebook and Instagram anymore? I just couldn’t bring myself to. But now that I’ve had time to think about it, I realize that if some nefarious character wants to use me in that way, there is already more than enough content out there to use effectively.
All I can do is let you know — once again — that I will never ask you for money by phone, text, email or social media. I probably will never ask you for money outside of Sunday’s offering. But if I do it will be face to face. So, I’m not so worried anymore. I’m going back to posting videos.
I hope that if anyone makes a video of me in a classic clip it’s as good as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” And I hope that if deep fake videos arise here at UUCSC or in any elections, we have the good sense to know they’re fake.
In Peace,
Rev Denis
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