Movies

Darth Vader AI Goes Full Nazi in Fortnite

BBG News

A fresh wave of fans is getting acquainted with George Lucas’ iconic Star Wars character, Darth Vader, due to a new AI adaptation in the game Fortnite. Unfortunately, this modernized version has been tarnishing the character’s reputation by spewing offensive stereotypes, annoying jargon, and derogatory comments towards players. As the gaming industry continually looks for novel ways to keep their offerings engaging (and financially successful), the introduction of chatbot-like characters was predictable. Instead of fretting over children being influenced by explicit entertainment, perhaps we should concern ourselves with the potential influence that children may have on media content.

If you haven’t a clue about V-Bucks or “Skibidi toilet,” we envy your innocence. Regardless, let us explain this phenomenon as best we can. Fortnite, a popular game among Generation Z and Alpha, is more than just a game; it’s a cultural touchstone. Featuring in-game concerts, it serves as a melting pot of pop culture references. It’s quite possible that if you are under 20, this game is where you recognize many iconic characters, rather than classic movies like Star Wars. This doesn’t bode well for traditional actors, who may find themselves relegated to meme status. Unfortunately, the genie (in this case, the influence of AI-driven entertainment) is already out of the bottle, and it’s too late to put it back.

Is ‘Fortnite’ the Harbinger of “Brainrot” To Come?

To provide a concise summary, Fortnite is a significant media brand that has achieved immense popularity. When young children ask their parents for money to purchase a character based on a celebrity in order to play as them within the game, it’s a clear indication of success. In this vibrant arena, characters like John Wick, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ice Spice, Snoop Dogg, and Peter Griffin engage in combat.

Recently, Epic Games, powered by Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash AI software, introduced Darth Vader as a teammate, utilizing the voice of James Earl Jones. The Epic Games press release highlights this collaboration, stating that players can “Strategize with the ultimate Sith Lord,” and includes a message from his estate to emphasize its authenticity.

As a devoted Star Wars enthusiast, I’ve always found the voice of Darth Vader to be an integral part of the story. It’s my hope that by teaming up with Fortnite, we can give both die-hard fans like myself and newcomers alike the chance to immerse themselves in the magic of this legendary character.

As a movie critic, I must admit that the game was initially quite entertaining – at least for those who didn’t find themselves in the unfortunate position of being told they were adopted within its virtual world. However, it didn’t take long for the caped character to start crossing lines, with racist jokes, sexual references, and aggressive behavior towards kids, among other things. Forbes’ Paul Tassi pointed these issues out.

Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker before the discussion escalated into a heated argument about Vader’s financial situation. Eventually, Darth Vader felt compelled to declare, “I am not broke!” – a statement that we can confirm is accurate for this review.

A Short History of Rogue Artificial Intelligence

Despite the ability to mute or report Vader, Epic’s anticipated content unveiling was spoiled at an unprecedented speed. The AI performed as intended, eliminating the necessity for actual actors like Jones, generating voices instantaneously without any human intervention or supervision. However, this is the predicament. Epic swiftly acknowledged their error in trusting their fans’ judgment and issued a fix with a patch for the AI, realizing they had been foolish.

Unfortunately, when creators of AI systems release them into unsupervised settings, it’s like sending a child to school without guidance – they can learn and mimic whatever harmful or inappropriate content they encounter. A case in point is Microsoft’s Tay chatbot from 2016, which was influenced by trolls who encouraged the AI to spew hate speech and controversial political comments, resulting in it becoming a Nazi-like figure. It appears that the technology behind AI hasn’t significantly evolved since then, and neither has the internet – both still pose similar risks.

Labor Unions Attempt To Ban AI to No Avail

Anyone considering selling their persona rights should beware, as there’s a risk it could be exploited and tarnished. In this instance, SAG-AFTRA intervened amidst the uproar, taking advantage of the situation to voice their concerns. They criticized Llama Productions (a subsidiary of Epic) for utilizing Jones’ voice, although legally, they have the exclusive rights granted by the Jones estate. However, SAG-AFTA used this occasion to emphasize that AI poses a threat to real people in the industry, which is essentially an issue of business.

The actions of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) are more focused on preserving the employment opportunities of voiceover artists, rather than addressing concerns about Darth Vader frightening children. Estates of deceased celebrities, such as Peter Cushing’s, may be unintentionally stealing roles from living actors to capitalize on the nostalgia craze, but only time will reveal their success. As for AI-driven learning chatbots, they are unlikely to advance significantly as long as they are developed by creatively bored and edgy teenagers. However, do not underestimate the determination of studios or media platforms to exploit AI technology, especially when it could potentially reduce costs in high budget movie, TV, and game productions.

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2025-05-23 23:04

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