FACT CHECK: Is Harry Potter by Balenciaga real? AI deepfake video debunked

If you are an active internet user, you might have come across the Harry Potter by Balenciaga video, which is tricking the world. In the video, a leather-clad Hagrid tells Harry, "You are Balenciaga," followed by appearances from Ron, Hermione, Dobby, Dumbledore, Malfoy, and others, all sporting similar cheekbones and expressions. Snape asks Harry about the difference between H&M and Balenciaga, while a Voldemort-like character declares, "There is no good and evil. There is only Balenciaga and those too weak to seek it."

The video has seemed to create a rage amongst Harry Potter fans and all fashion enthusiasts. With many falling for it and believing it to be real, others have brainstormed and declared that the video was created using an AI voice generator and deepfake technology, which is basically the new generation of photoshopping with the difference that it uses AI known as deep learning to create pictures of fictitious events.

Basically, a YouTuber, demonflyingfox, has created this viral video using a tool like Midjounrey, where he has built an ad from scratch for the luxury fashion brand Balenciaga. Created almost two weeks back, the video has received close to 4 million views. The video has even caught the eye of Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who also reacted to the viral Balenciaga video with two fire emojis.

Hence, no, Harry Potter by Balenciaga is not real. Instead, it is just a fake ad made by a YouTuber using an AI voice generator and deepfake technology.

“My guilty secret is that I am enjoying this Midjourney experiment”: Social media users reacted to the AI version of Harry Potter by Balenciaga

From quirky dialogues to different looks, social media users are now reacting to the Harry Potter by Balenciaga video, as people are going gaga over the AI-created video. At the same time, there are many others who are also calling the video “grotesque.”

People also shared their reactions by commenting on the YouTube video, as they were blown away by the work of AI, which looked as natural as possible.

Demonflyingfox, a content creator on YouTube, has utilized artificial intelligence to produce various visual amalgamations. Among the examples are the combination of Breaking Bad and Yakuza movies, the fusion of Kenny from South Park with 1980s sitcom themes, and unconventional scenarios like the encounter of Ned Flanders from The Simpsons with Walter White.

These AI-generated images share similarities with the recently released video by the YouTuber, demonstrating their artistic versatility and creativity.

How to spot deepfakes?

Much like Harry Potter in Balenciaga, the world went gaga over Pope Francis in a Balenciaga jacket just last month. It all happened when many social media users thought that the picture was real. However, the similarity between the Pope picture and the Harry Potter video is that both of these were made with the same AI, called Midjourney.

It's not that tough to spot these AI images. An actual picture can be differentiated from an AI-generated image by looking at the hands, clothing, and eyes. There is a chance that there will be something different about these features, be it the eyes looking in different directions, the blending of the skin tone, etc., that will differ from the actual pictures.

One must also look at the accessories around, as the creator might not have paid that much attention to detail on the accessories, and they look crooked as a result. Moreover, searching about the picture on the internet and seeing what people are saying about it will also be beneficial for you, as you will not fall prey to the picture and believe that the image is true.

About the author

Srishti is a celebrity trends writer at SK POP holding a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. She has always been passionate about writing and has 7 years of experience in the field, having previously worked at Catch News and News18 India.

She believes it is crucial to conduct in-depth research on any topic she covers, and aims to write authentic and error-free content. She also ensures she eliminates any information that is not verified to provide readers with top-notch and accurate articles.

Srishti admires Beyoncé for her vocal skills and also appreciates the kindness with which she treats her fans. She also thinks it is commendable that the artist is involved in social work and prioritizes giving back to the community.

FRIENDS has been her favorite series since she was in school, so she would love to be part of the iconic sitcom if she could lay hands on a time machine, and interact with the lead stars if she could.

When Srishti is not busy reading and writing about the latest developments in the industry, she enjoys playing badminton, swimming, and painting.

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