Will Smith Accused of Creating an AI Crowd for Tour Video

Footage from Will Smith‘s comeback Based on a True Story tour has got perceptive online viewers pointing out curious happenings among the crowd.

Compiled of clips from his shows on tour, one shot includes fans holding up a sign that reads “We <3 You Willy,” but some images of the faces around it are distorted and blurred. Others online have claimed some audience members have been bestowed extra fingers or oddly formed hands.

While some have accused the Prince of Bel Air of using artificial intelligence to beef up shots of the crowd, there have been reports of YouTube artificially altering videos uploaded to the platform without the creators’ knowledge. In a story published in The Atlantic last week, YouTuber Rhett Shull said that he believes that YouTube is using “AI upscaling” on his videos, which involves dialing up an image’s resolution and detail. “I think it’s gonna lead people to think that I am using AI to create my videos. Or that it’s been deepfaked. Or that I’m cutting corners somehow,” he told the publication. “It will inevitably erode viewers’ trust in my content.”

A rep for Smith and a rep for YouTube did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s requests for comment.

The line between reality and illusions has blurred as AI floods the internet, from fake bands to artificially generated songs to bogus photos of music legends — including a completely imagined capture of Mick Jagger, Elton John, and Rod Stewart harmonizing at Ozzy Osbourne’s memorial service.

Last month, the AI band the Velvet Sundown went viral and garnered a flurry of media coverage after suddenly appearing on popular Spotify playlists. The band also inspired an apparent hoaxer who said he impersonated the band on X and falsely claimed to be a band spokesperson during interactions with the media, including a phone interview with Rolling Stone.

The Velvet Sundown later put out a band bio calling itself “a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence,” adding: “This isn’t a trick — it’s a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI.”

Many artists have called out the use of AI, with SZA criticizing the damaging use of AI programs that consume vital resources to function, such as ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s chatbot, Grok.

The growing confusion surrounding AI in entertainment highlights a larger issue: audience trust. When viewers cannot tell what is real and what is artificially created, they become skeptical of all content, even from trusted celebrities or platforms. This erosion of trust could have long-lasting consequences for both artists and audiences, making authenticity a highly sought-after but difficult-to-prove quality.

For Will Smith, a figure already navigating the complexity of a public comeback, the timing of these AI-related controversies adds another layer of scrutiny. Audiences may interpret any digital distortion, intentional or not, as an effort to manipulate reality. In an era where every frame of video can be dissected and speculated upon online, celebrities face mounting challenges in maintaining transparency.

On the corporate side, YouTube’s alleged AI interventions present their own ethical questions. If platforms alter videos without notifying creators, not only does this undermine artistic integrity, but it also risks misrepresenting the creator’s intentions. Such practices could open debates about ownership of content, liability for misinformation, and the responsibility of tech companies in shaping public perception.

The broader cultural moment also reveals how rapidly AI has permeated mainstream entertainment. From fake concert footage to fabricated interviews, AI-generated illusions are no longer confined to niche internet experiments. They are shaping headlines, influencing music trends, and even creating confusion at live events. As these technologies advance, the boundaries between fact and fabrication may become nearly impossible to define.

Some argue that AI-driven creativity can be an exciting frontier, offering tools that enhance music, film, and art in ways previously unimaginable. However, the darker implications — identity theft, misinformation, and manipulation — are equally pressing. Artists and platforms alike must grapple with the balance between embracing innovation and preserving authenticity.

For audiences, the responsibility also shifts. Media literacy and critical thinking become crucial in an environment where not everything seen or heard can be trusted at face value. Spotting inconsistencies, questioning sources, and maintaining skepticism may soon be everyday skills required just to engage with entertainment.