AI-Generated Fake Fortnite Clips Fool Viewers

Google has recently unveiled Veo 3, an advanced AI tool that can generate incredibly realistic Fortnite gameplay videos. This tool can create life-like clips and include realistic-sounding audio from simple text-based prompts, raising concerns about its potential misuse.

Veo 3's capabilities have been showcased within days of its launch, with users producing convincing Fortnite gameplay videos complete with fake streamer commentary. These videos are so realistic that they could easily be mistaken for genuine content on platforms like YouTube or Twitch. For instance, a clip of a streamer celebrating a victory royale using only a pickaxe was generated from a nine-word text prompt: "Streamer getting a victory royale with just his pickaxe."

Although Veo 3 wasn't explicitly instructed to create Fortnite gameplay, it infers the game from the context provided in the prompts. This ability suggests that the AI has been trained on vast amounts of Fortnite content available online, despite not having official approval from Epic Games, the game's developer.

The implications of Veo 3's capabilities extend beyond copyright issues to more pressing concerns about the potential for disinformation. The ability to generate such realistic footage could be used to mislead viewers and undermine trust in authentic content. Social media users have expressed shock and concern, with some questioning the ethics and legality of training AI on copyrighted material without consent.

In addition to gaming, Veo 3 has been used to create a fake news report on a non-existent automobile trade show, complete with fabricated interviews. This further highlights the tool's versatility and potential for misuse.

Microsoft has also entered the AI-generated video space with its Muse program, trained on footage from its Xbox game Bleeding Edge. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has suggested that Muse could aid in ideating game concepts and even contribute to game preservation. However, the reveal of Muse and its ability to generate fake gameplay footage of Quake 2 has sparked debate over its impact on human creativity and job security in the gaming industry.

Interestingly, Fortnite itself has integrated AI, recently adding a feature allowing players to chat with a generative AI version of Darth Vader, voiced by the late James Earl Jones. This addition, while officially licensed, has faced criticism and led to an unfair labor practice charge from the acting union SAG-AFTRA.

IGN has reached out to Epic Games for comment on Veo 3's use of Fortnite content.