Watch: Deepfake Video Reimagines Harry Potter and Co. as Catwalk Models
Can you picture the world's favorite wizard as a fashion model? With AI-generated deepfake technology, it's possible — and Harry Potter has been reimagined on the Balenciaga catwalk.
In the viral video, "Harry, Ron and Hermione are all looking like supermodels," Indy100 said, adding that the deepfake "also gives the likes of [Voldemort], Hagrid, Dumbledore and Snape a high-fashion makeover."
The article detailed that the clip is titled "Harry Potter by Balenciaga," and "was posted by Instagram user @demonflyingfox."
Fan-made deepfakes can be fun, riffing on popular films like "Star Trek" and "Titanic."
But deepfake has another, more sinister side — one that can be used to spread disinformation and other inflammatory content.
"One of the worst recently came from Eric Trump," Indy100 noted, "who has posted an AI-generated image on social media, claiming to portray his father walking in New York surrounded by thousands of people following Trump's arrest on Tuesday (April 4)."
In that case, "people quickly realized it was completely fake" thanks to the video's obvious flaws. But deepfakes will only get harder to spot as the technology improves.
In the meantime, however, the "Harry Potter" fan's fashion makeover of the heroes — and the villains — from the movie franchise is a bit of fun that mashes wardrobe and wizardry, haute couture and hijinks.