If you've been on TikTok lately, you might've seen several videos starring Tom Cruise—or what looks like Tom Cruise—going viral for seemingly no reason.
These videos are actually carefully-crafted deepfakes created by visual effects artist Chris Ume, the mind behind the @deeptomcruise TikTok account. Ume has spoken out about these convincing impersonations, and shares how much work really goes into creating one.
Deepfakes Aren't as Easy to Create as You Might Think
When scrolling through @deeptomcruise's videos, it's hard to tell that this really isn't Tom Cruise playing golf, eating candy, or doing a magic trick. If "deep" wasn't in his username, TikTok's entire userbase would undoubtedly be convinced of Tom Cruise's official presence on the platform.
Ume, the creator of this Tom Cruise doppelganger, spoke to The Verge about how much work was really put into creating this digital clone. He stated that the average person can't create a deepfake "by just pressing a button."
First off, he teamed up with Tom Cruise impersonator, Miles Fisher, which helped make the deepfake all the more accurate.
It took Ume two whole months to train the AI model on videos containing Tom Cruise. And even after Ume shot the clips he needed, it took several more days to go over each video with a fine-toothed comb to catch any glitches. This is clearly far too much work for the typical internet troll.
Ume used DeepFaceLab's open-source algorithm, along with other video editing software. "By combining traditional CGI and VFX with deepfakes, it makes it better. I make sure you don’t see any of the glitches," Ume said.
We likely won't see anymore posts from @deeptomcruise, as Ume stated: "We had fun. I created awareness. I showed my skills. We made people smile. And that’s it, the project is done.”
The real Tom Cruise has since made his own TikTok account—maybe Ume's deepfakes ended up catching his eye!
Ume's Message Is Reassuring
As unsettling as these Tom Cruise deepfakes might be, Ume's message reassures users that not just anyone can create such a pristine deepfake (at least not until the technology improves).
When amateurs create deepfakes, it's typically easy to spot them. But since technology is always evolving, there might one day be an affordable tool that lets the average user create a deepfake that's equally as convincing as the one that Ume has made. Deepfakes can pose huge security risks, and putting that power into a scam artist's hands is a scary thought.