AI will create a mad Putin to star in film about his life

At last, an unequivocally positive use for AI – to create a fake but realistic Putin to star in a film about his life. A September launch date has been announced for “Inside the mind of Putin", from the experimental Polish director Patryk Vega. It uses news footage of the real Putin to train an AI model to infer his likeness in fictional sequences in which – to judge from the trailer – the increasingly deranged dictator can be seen in suits, judo outfits and, more frequently, soiled nappies. Exploding missiles, collapsing buildings and vengeful children returning from the dead are much in evidence. There’s not much sign of quality or restraint in what has been released so far, but it can’t be a bad thing if digital fakery is turned against a tyrant. Can it?