Taylor Swift’s recent album release, titled “The Life of a Showgirl,” was accompanied by an engaging online scavenger hunt for her fans. This event kicked off with a simple Google search for her name.
However, as fans began to discover hidden videos related to the campaign, some expressed concerns that these clips appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence, leading to dissatisfaction among them.
When searching for Taylor Swift on Google, fans encountered a mysterious message: “12 cities, 12 doors, 1 video to unlock.” This clue set the stage for an adventurous quest.
To participate, fans needed to locate specific doors in various cities, then find and scan a QR code. This process revealed 12 unique videos that held the clues necessary to solve the scavenger hunt.
After searching for the correct phrase online, another orange door appeared, requiring fans to collectively click 12 million times to “knock” on it.
Once this goal was achieved, the door opened, unveiling a lyric video for “The Fate of Ophelia,” which featured its own progress bar on YouTube.
YouTube secured the exclusive rights to the music video for this track, along with the lyric videos for the rest of the songs from the new album.
The scavenger hunt was initially announced by Google in a video on Instagram. This video showcased an aerial view of Earth, zooming in on a stunning, gem-like landscape, eventually revealing an orange door alongside a Google search bar.
While many Swift fans enjoy solving puzzles, some were unsettled by the 12 videos containing clues, which seemed to be AI-generated.
Instead of focusing on finding clues for the new lyric video as intended, some fans took on the role of detectives, scrutinizing the clips for signs of artificial creation.
Although certain scenes appeared to be computer-generated, it remains uncertain whether they were indeed made with AI, and if so, to what degree.
Given the context, it seems plausible that these videos could have been produced using Google’s AI technologies.
With OpenAI showcasing its new Sora 2 video generator, this collaboration with Taylor Swift presents a unique chance for Google to demonstrate the capabilities of its Veo 3 model to millions of fans.
Google has not yet responded to inquiries from reporters about how these videos were created or whether Swift collaborated with Google to incorporate its AI technology in this campaign. It’s worth noting that Swift’s team and Google have previously partnered on similar promotional projects.
The integration of AI in creative endeavors raises important questions. While some artists view these tools as beneficial, others are concerned about the way large language models are trained using their work without their permission, which may exploit their artistry to develop technologies that could endanger their careers.
Even Taylor Swift has voiced her concerns regarding AI after an incident where an AI-generated image of her was used to falsely endorse Donald Trump’s campaign last year.
This prompted her to publicly support former Vice President Kamala Harris, who was running against Trump in the 2024 election.
“Recently, I learned that an AI version of me was used to falsely support Donald Trump’s campaign on his website. This situation heightened my fears about AI and the risks of misinformation. It made me realize I need to be open about my real plans for this election as a voter,” she shared on Instagram during that time.
The discussion surrounding Swift’s potential use of AI is intensified by her significant influence in the music industry.
While some artists may find AI appealing as a cost-cutting measure, Taylor Swift, as a billionaire musician, has every resource available to create the imaginative scenes featured in her promotional videos.
Other Stories You May Like