Comedians are criticizing the fast-growing AI Instagram comedian, Tiffany Sloan, for profiting from stolen material.
Here's what to know
According to Kotaku, most of the 75 videos posted since the Tiffany Sloan account launched on September 11 show the AI character delivering jokes to a simulated crowd. At least one clip drew more than 7 million views. The account has topped 375,000 followers, but some argue it's ripping off jokes.
Among the complaints, comedian George Brett Olson has been the most explicit, saying a Sloan stand-up bit mirrors not only one of his jokes but also the look he wore onstage. Olson posted his comparison on October 3, matching a Sloan routine against part of his own set to prove his point.
He added that the borrowing was not limited to his material, saying other comics' jokes were being repurposed to drive views and interaction as the Meta-hosted account keeps expanding. Generative AI lets a single person churn out many near-duplicate videos, see which versions perform best, and keep piling up views, comments, and followers.
No creator has been publicly identified for the Sloan account.
More background
Kotaku also reported that Olson suspects the same kind of joke theft may be happening across multiple accounts built around AI-generated women of different races. That would allow the same material to be recycled repeatedly through different digital performers.
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The AI character can also appear in clips with actors such as Kaley Cuoco and Danny DeVito to see which one gets the most engagement to maximize profits. On top of that, Sloan also has an OnlyFans account.
Big tech companies are driving a future where AI-generated content overwhelms the internet, largely because their platforms financially reward creators for producing content that attracts clicks, views, and engagement rather than content that is authentic.
Where can I learn more?
The backlash to Tiffany Sloan is one of many complaints about AI-generated accounts and authenticity online. Here are more stories covering Instagram outrage over AI personas, unease over bot interactions, brands distancing themselves from AI, creator frustrations on YouTube, and controversy around explicit AI images.
• Instagram users faced unbelievable new energy-sucking accounts and blasted the platform's AI sprawl.
• On Instagram, a user was disturbed by a conversation with an AI therapy bot posing as support.
• Brands began proving ads were not made with AI as skepticism spread online.
• YouTube users said the new AI feature blocks creators from getting counted views.
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