Footage from Will Smith’s Based On A True Story tour has sparked online claims that parts of the audience were generated or altered by AI, after viewers noticed distorted faces and oddly formed hands in a compilation video.
Distorted faces fuel “AI crowd” accusations
In one clip, fans are seen holding a sign reading “We <3 You Willy,” while nearby faces appear blurred or warped. Others on social media pointed to images of extra fingers or unusual hands among the crowd. According to Rolling Stone, the video is compiled from various tour stops and has led to speculation that artificial intelligence was used to enhance or simulate sections of the audience.
Rolling Stone reports that representatives for Smith and YouTube did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The publication notes broader confusion in the current media environment, where AI-generated visuals increasingly intersect with real footage.
Questions about platform processing
Alongside the accusations, some observers have pointed to reports that platform-level processing may change video appearance without creators’ input. Rolling Stone cites a recent story in The Atlantic in which YouTuber Rhett Shull said he believes YouTube is applying “AI upscaling” to his videos, increasing resolution and perceived detail.
Context from recent AI-related music stories
Shull told The Atlantic that such processing could lead viewers to assume he used AI or employed deceptive techniques, adding that it could erode trust in his content. Rolling Stone frames the Smith video debate within a wider trend of AI’s growing footprint in music and media, from fabricated band imagery to generated songs.
Rolling Stone references recent examples, including bogus photos of music legends and the viral rise of The Velvet Sundown, which later described itself as “a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence.” The outlet also notes ongoing criticism of AI’s role in culture and resources by artists such as SZA.
As of publication, Rolling Stone says there has been no official clarification from Smith’s team or YouTube regarding the tour footage. The discussion underscores how ambiguous visual artifacts—whether from editing, compression, or algorithmic processing—can prompt questions about authenticity in an AI-saturated media landscape.
