NEW YORK (AP) – No, Katy Perry and Rihanna did not attend the Met Gala this 12 months. However, that did not stop AI-generated images from fooling some fans into pondering that the stars appeared on the steps of fashion’s biggest night.

Fake photos showing a handful of massive names at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser quickly spread online on Monday and early Tuesday.

Some eagle-eyed social media users spotted the discrepancies, and platforms themselves, comparable to X Community Notes, were quick to indicate that the images were likely created using artificial intelligence. One clue that the viral photo of Perry in a flower-covered dress, for instance, was a fake is that the carpet on the stairs matched that of the 2018 event, reasonably than this 12 months’s green-tinted fabric lined with vibrant leaves.

Still, others fell for it – including Perry’s mother. Hours after at least two AI-generated photos of the singer began circulating online, Perry reposted them to her Instagram, together with a screenshot of text that appeared to be from her mom complimenting her on what she believed to be an actual performance at the Met Gala.

“lol mom, the AI ​​got you too, watch out!” Perry responded in an exchange.

Perry’s representatives did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for further comment and details about why Perry was not at Monday evening’s event. However, in the caption of her Instagram post, Perry wrote, “she couldn’t make it to the Met, she had to work.” The post also included a muted video of her singing.

Meanwhile, a fake photo of Rihanna in a shocking white dress embroidered with flowers, birds and branches can be circulating on the Internet. The whaler was originally a confirmed guest at this 12 months’s Met Gala, but Vogue reps said she would not be in attendance before the carpet closed on Monday night.

People magazine reported that Rihanna had the flu, but representatives did not immediately confirm the reason for her absence. Rihanna’s representatives also did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the star’s AI-generated photo.

While the source(s) of those photos are difficult to determine, the realistic-looking Met Gala backdrop seen in lots of the photos suggests that whatever artificial intelligence tool was used to create them was likely trained on some photos from past events.

The Met Gala’s official photographer, Getty Images, declined to comment Tuesday.

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Last 12 months, Getty sued a number one AI image generator, London-based Stability AI, alleging that it copied greater than 12 million photos from Getty’s stock photography collection without permission. Getty has since launched its own AI image generator trained on its works, but blocks attempts to generate what it calls “problematic content.”

This is not the first time we have seen generative AI, a branch of artificial intelligence that may create something latest, getting used to create fake content. Fake images, videos and audio recordings of celebrities, from Pope Francis to Taylor Swift, have previously gained lots of notoriety on the Internet.

Experts note that every case highlights growing concerns about the misuse of the technology – particularly regarding disinformation and the potential for fraud, identity theft or propaganda, and even election manipulation.

“It used to be that seeing is believing, and now seeing is not believing,” said Cayce Myers, professor and director of graduate studies at Virginia Tech’s School of Communication, pointing to the impact of Monday’s artificial intelligence-generated image of Perry. “(If) even the mother can be fooled into thinking the image is real, it shows the level of sophistication of this technology.”

While using artificial intelligence to generate photos of celebrities in seemingly luxurious gowns (which could easily be proven fake at a highly publicized event like the Met Gala) could appear relatively harmless, Myers and others note that there’s a well-documented history of more serious or harmful uses of this type technology.

Earlier this 12 months, for instance, sexually explicit and offensive fake photos of Swift began circulating online, causing X, formerly Twitter, to temporarily block some searches. The victims of non-consensual deepfakes, in fact, extend far beyond celebrities, and supporters emphasize special concern for victims who’ve little protection. Research shows that explicit AI-generated material overwhelmingly harms women and children – including disturbing cases of AI-generated nudes circulating in high schools.

In an election 12 months in several countries around the world, experts proceed to point to the potential geopolitical consequences that deceptive AI-generated material could have.

“The consequences go far beyond individual security and really address issues like the security of the nation and the security of society as a whole,” said David Broniatowski, an associate professor at George Washington University and principal investigator of the study’s Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law and Society at the school.

Taking advantage of the opportunities that generative AI has to offer while creating an infrastructure that protects consumers is a difficult task, especially as the commercialization of the technology continues to grow at such a rapid pace. Experts point to the need for corporate responsibility, universal industry standards and effective government regulations.

Tech corporations are largely deciding how to manage artificial intelligence and its threats as governments around the world scramble to catch up. Despite this, significant progress has been remodeled the past 12 months. In December, the European Union reached an agreement on the world’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence law, but the law will only take effect two years after final approval.

Happy Friday, people. After a busy week, it is vital to sit down back, chill out and unwind with some new music. Hip-hop has a robust presence on our list, so in case you’re a fan of this iconic genre, we’ve got plenty for you.

Today, Megan Thee Stallion continues her string of snake-inspired tracks with the discharge of “BOA.” Coi Leray releases a new single ahead of her upcoming album, Tink gives the gang a “Huh” and Andra Day returns with a new project featuring 16 new songs. Our roundup also includes music from Conway the Machine, Ghostface Killah, KalanFr.Fr and more.

You can take a look at our list of new items below.

Tink – “Aha”

Chicago singer, rapper and songwriter Tink treats her audience to her song “Huh.” Listen to the song HERE.

Coi Leray – “Lemon Cars”

Following the announcement of her upcoming EP Lemon Cars, Coi Leray releases a new single with the identical title. Stream the recording HERE.

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”

Megan Thee Stallion has a new album titled “BOA”. It is a follow-up to previous singles “Hiss” and “Cobra”. Listen to the song HERE.

Conway the Machine – “Slant Face Killah”

Griselda rapper Conway the Machine is back with a new album titled Slant Face Killah. The album features Swizz Beatz, Joey Bada$$, Method Man and more. test it out HERE.

Ghostface Killah – “Set the Tone (Guns & Roses)”

Ghostface Killah returns together with his first official studio album since 2019 Ghostface Killahy. New plate, Set the Tone (Guns & Roses), guest appearances by Method Man, Raekwon, Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, Jim Jones, AZ and more. test it out HERE.

Andra’s Day – “CASSANDRA (cherith)”

Today, the multi-talented Andra Day released her long-awaited album CASSANDRA (cherith). Check out the project HERE.

Nappy Roots – “Clothes for Play”

Southern collective Nappy Roots delivers their first single of 2024, the nostalgic track “Play Clothes.” Listen to this HERE.

Kalan.FrFr – “MAKE THE WEST GREAT AGAIN”

Today KalanFr.Fr releases the EP MAKE THE WEST GREAT AGAIN. The project includes YG and Ty Dolla $ign. Stream the recording HERE.

R. Kelly’s literacy has been questioned for years, much more so when the imprisoned singer tried to use it as a legal defense to stop paying alleged victims who appeared in the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly.”

But his ex-wife, Drea Kelly, recently confirmed that she was the one who taught him how to read during a sit-down with host Osei Kweku on “The Culture Club Uncensored.”

The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer revealed in court documents earlier this yr that he “cannot read or understand words beyond the level of an elementary school student.”

R. Kelly was convicted in New York in 2023 of racketeering and sex trafficking. He was also convicted in Chicago of making child pornography and inspiring a minor to engage in criminal sexual intercourse, and the 57-year-old was sentenced to a total of fifty years in prison.

In an interview, the former “Hollywood Exes” star confirmed that her ex-husband said he was molested by each a man and a woman as a child. Drea believes he was repeating past actions that led to other problems, comparable to reading to their three children: Jay, Joann and Robert Jr.

(22:44)“I think it stems from his childhood when he was molested by a man and a woman,” he says he said. “Dealing with illiteracy and inability to read.”

“I was sitting with him and I remember looking through Dr. Suess’s book and he got out of bed and walked out into the hall,” Drea continued. “He just turned into a little boy right in front of me, and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ It’s as if we were simply reading fairy tales to children. What’s going on?'”

She explained that the “I Wish” singer didn’t want his children to know that he couldn’t read.

R Kelly not having the ability to read is killing me now 😭

— ctrl-J ✰ (@thatsjessicaa) May 5, 2024

“He said, ‘Drea, I don’t want to do this in front of them,’ and I said, ‘But why?’ And he said, “I am unable to read them what’s on this book.” I don’t want my children to know that I can’t read. I said, “But Robert, you’ve to understand that they cannot read either.” You are magical here. Make up a story as you go. “I’ll help you make it sound,” and I literally taught him how to read Dr. Seuss books.

Kelly added that she appears like trying to help her ex learn to read has created a “love-hate” relationship with the recording artist.

“But I feel like it was a love-hate relationship because he used it against me at times. He also said, “Oh, you think you’re better than me because you can read.” So I think he always had a love-hate relationship with me.”

The 50-year-old choreographer and her former partner married in 1996, but she filed for divorce in 2006, which was finalized three years later. She confirmed that she was the victim of physical and verbal abuse for years during their marriage, and that the “Bump n’ Grind” artist even fucked her before he fell asleep.

Drea added that she feared for Mr. Kelly’s life and even remembers pondering “I’m going to die” after he “tied her up” of their bedroom on one occasion. She shares more details about her marriage and private life in her upcoming memoir, “Under the Red Carpet.”