According to a recently published research paper by Bytedance’s AI department, the Omnihuman-1 model is trained with over 18,700 hours of human video, and as mentioned in the ABC report, it has a very accurate and realistic human movement and It can generate voice synchronization.
This leap into generative AI technology has deep implications and could raise questions about its ethical use and potential national security risks.
Experts warn of the dangers of deepfark
AI expert Henry Ager warned that Omphman-1 represents a major advance in Deepfark technology. Unlike previous models that require hundreds or even thousands of images to generate compelling videos, Bytedance’s latest models can achieve surprisingly realistic results from just one image.
“If this technology is widely available, it will be easier than ever to create fake videos for deceptive purposes,” Ajder told ABC News.
He has made it possible to make highly persuasive spoofs and pose serious risks in areas such as political disinformation, identity theft, and cyber fraud. He emphasized that it can be done.
Bytedance has not yet disclosed the exact source of training data used for Omnifman-1.
The company declined to request comment from ABC News, but the representative of ByteDance said that Forbes would include strict protection against harmful content if technology is deployed for public use. I guaranteed that.
Introducing the features of demonstration AI
In the demonstrations included in the research paper, Omnihuman-1 turned Albert Einstein’s still portrait into a video, appearing to be lectured by a physicist.
Other examples showcase AI-generated TED talk speakers and musicians, demonstrating the potential models of education, entertainment and digital storytelling.
One of the key advancements in Omnihuman-1 is its ability to generate high fidelity videos in any aspect ratio, eliminating common AI flaws such as unnatural lip movements and hand distortions .
The realism of the output outperforms existing AI models, making it difficult for traditional AI detection tools to identify synthetic content.
Disinformation and AI in global elections
Timing of bytedance’s AI breakthrough is particularly important as governments tackle increasing the use of disinformation generated by AI around the world.
A recent report from the Brookings Agency found that artificial intelligence played a role influencing voter opinions during the 2024 US election, with Russian officials being generated by AI on issues such as immigration, crime, and foreign policy. He emphasized that propaganda is being developed.
Other countries have also experienced the dangerous potential of AI-driven deceptions.
In Bangladesh, a scandal broke out when AI-generated deepfakes portrayed politicians in imagery of compromise. In Moldova, similar technologies were used to misprint the pro-Western president of the country supporting Russian-backed political parties.
Meanwhile, the US used an AI-generated audio clone of President Joe Biden to discourage voters from participating in the New Hampshire primary.
We’ll catch up with AI development
Bytedance demonstrates its technical capabilities, but the US is working to close the gap. Former President Donald Trump previously announced $500 billion in private sector AI investments to help companies like Open, SoftBank and Oracle accelerate American AI innovation.
But John Cohen, a former Intelligence Bureau official at the Department of Homeland Security, warned that the US is slow to respond to the evolving, AI-driven threat landscape.
“The United States is in a dynamic, dangerous threat environment supported by online content created by foreign intelligence reporting agencies, extremist groups and criminal organizations,” Cohen said.
He added that tools like Omnihuman-1 can produce sophisticated deepfakes for malicious actors more efficient and at a lower cost.
As the world moves into an AI-controlled future, the unveiling of Omnifman-1 raises urgent ethical and regulatory issues.
It is still unclear whether bytedance will integrate the technology into Tiktok or into other platforms, but its capabilities underscore the high-stakes battle for AI advantage between China and the US.
FAQ:
Who owns Bytedance, the parent company of Tiktok?
Why is Tiktok banned in China? The ban on government devices is usually driven by national security concerns by the Chinese government regarding potential data access.
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