The Chinese internet giant Tencent’s cloud services division, Tencent Cloud, has introduced a new digital human production platform that enables users to generate deep fakes of any person using a three-minute video clip and 100 words of audio material.
The deepfake generator offered by Tencent Cloud creates fictitious films of people using Tencent’s in-house artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Con artists frequently use deepfake films to fool investors by posing as well-known people. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, issued a warning in 2022 about the growing problem of deepfakes using his likeness to spread bitcoin fraud.
Elon Musk's deep fake video promoting a new cryptocurrency scam going viral. The video claims that the trading platform is owned by Elon Musk, and offers 30% returns on crypto deposits. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/iJeUvHYc5p
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) May 24, 2022
According to local media Jiemian, Tencent Cloud’s service can analyze and train itself on 100 speech samples and three-minute films to create a convincing deepfake video in less than 24 hours. The deepfake creation service costs approximately $145 or 1,000 yuan.
Deepfake version (left) created by Tencent Cloud’s AI service. Source: Tencent (via Jiemian)
According to The Register, Tencent verified the breakthrough and said the service could produce deepfakes in Chinese and English.
Five different forms of digital human construction are available: 2D actual person, 2D cartoon, 3D realistic, and 3D semi-realistic.
Tencent plans to use the platform to present live-streamed infomercials targeted at the Chinese market. According to Jiemian’s analysis, deepfakes can be used to pose as “doctors, lawyers, and other professionals.”
Other Chinese IT behemoths like Huawei and Baidu have also been working on their versions of generative AI tools to compete with ChatGPT, the industry leader.