Imagine receiving a video of a homeless person seemingly wandering into your home, only to find out it’s a prank—but not just any prank. This one leverages artificial intelligence, and it’s causing real alarm. Police in Michigan are now warning about the ‘AI homeless man prank,’ a disturbing trend spreading on TikTok that’s not only fooling people but also wasting emergency resources. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some see it as harmless fun, others argue it’s a dangerous misuse of technology that preys on vulnerabilities. Let’s dive in.
In Big Rapids, Michigan, law enforcement agencies are sounding the alarm about this emerging TikTok trend. Users are creating AI-generated videos that convincingly depict a homeless person entering someone’s home, often leaving friends and family members shocked and confused. And this is the part most people miss: the technology behind these pranks is shockingly accessible. Greg Gogolin, a cybersecurity and data science expert at Ferris State University, explains, ‘It’s frustratingly easy to do.’ Once developed, these tools often fall into the wrong hands, as Gogolin notes, ‘They share or sell it, and that’s where the real danger lies—anyone, regardless of technical skill, can use it as they please.’
The West Bloomfield Police near Detroit have already received reports of individuals being deceived by these videos. They warn that such pranks can trigger panic and unnecessarily tie up emergency responders. Gogolin demonstrated to News 8 how quickly he could create a face-swapping program using natural language processing and machine learning. ‘The results are eerily realistic,’ he said, explaining how the AI combines facial features with other images to create convincing fakes.
But how can you spot these AI-generated videos? Gogolin points out that while newer versions have improved, subtle flaws may still appear. ‘You might notice an arm looking off or elbows in the wrong place,’ he said. However, as the technology advances, even these telltale signs are becoming harder to detect, making it a growing challenge for law enforcement.
Here’s the controversial question: Is this just a prank, or does it cross a line into ethical and legal territory? Gogolin argues that investigators need advanced training to keep up with these rapidly evolving technologies. ‘There are very few officers with cybersecurity or computer science backgrounds, especially at the local level,’ he noted. This gap in expertise could leave communities vulnerable to misuse of AI.
So, what do you think? Is the ‘AI homeless man prank’ a harmless joke, or a troubling example of technology gone too far? Let us know in the comments—this is a conversation worth having.
