On the afternoon of 1/5, Ly Hai spoke out regarding the unauthorized use of his image by several websites to advertise supplements and sell products. The director stated his primary concern: AI-generated videos appear highly realistic, potentially deceiving audiences.

He urged the public to exercise caution when shopping online, verify information through official channels, avoid transferring money via suspicious links, and warn elderly individuals about such scams. Ly Hai's team plans to engage with social media platforms to request the removal of infringing content.

Many artists have previously denounced the appropriation of their images by AI, including singer My Tam, Miss H'Hen Nie, artist Manh Cuong, and singer Duc Phuc. In early February, actress Hong Dao reported that numerous websites and online accounts were impersonating her image, information, and voice to sell dietary supplements and weight-loss drugs. According to Hong Dao, despite her colleagues speaking out on her behalf, the impersonators are becoming increasingly sophisticated. "Some people who bought these products by mistake were scammed, became angry, and used harsh words against me," the actress stated.

According to lawyer Hoang Ha of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, celebrities are prime targets for AI-generated fake news. Artists are vulnerable because their images and voices are readily available online. Fake celebrity images are often used to advertise dietary supplements, gambling, or online scams.

In early January, the Ho Chi Minh City Police summoned two individuals who shared a fake video titled "Quyen Linh arrested". Technical analysis confirmed it was an AI-generated product, combining fabricated images and audio to manipulate public opinion negatively. Artificial Intelligence Law strictly prohibits using fake or simulated elements of real people or events to deceive and manipulate human perception.

Director - producer Ly Hai. *Photo: Courtesy of subject*

Ly Hai, 57, graduated from the drama program at Stage Art School 2 (now Ho Chi Minh City University of Theater and Cinema). In the early 1990s, he entered the singing profession due to unemployment and a lack of acting roles. After struggling for many years, he gained renown in the early 2000s with the soundtrack album "Tron Doi Ben Em". In 2010, he decided to leave the stage and shift his focus to directing, subsequently achieving success with the "Lat Mat" film series.

Over ten years in cinema, Ly Hai has become one of the most successful box office producers. In 2024, "Lat Mat 7: Mot Dieu Uoc" became the highest-grossing film of his career, earning 482 billion VND and ranking as the second-highest-grossing Vietnamese project at the time. Alongside "Mai" (Tran Thanh), "Lat Mat 7" helped Vietnamese cinemas surpass 2,000 billion VND in May 2024, marking the most explosive growth since the pandemic.

Mai Nhat