Sydney Lohr, Staff Writer 

Last month, a video of Jake Paul giving a makeup tutorial went viral across social media. At first glance, you might think Paul was dabbling in a new career path.  

How could you not? Everything looked real—the voice, the gestures, the editing—but it wasn’t him. It was a deepfake, generated by artificial intelligence.  

With over 10.4 million views on TikTok, the video didn’t just entertain; it sparked concern. One user wrote, “Not gonna lie, this is the first time I’ve been fooled by AI,” while another admitted, “How is this AI? I’m 100% getting scammed when I’m older.” 

Although the video was made with AI for entertainment, it reignited a growing fear: if AI can make this so easily, what else can it do? “All jokes aside,” another viewer commented, “AI is an extremely dangerous tool, and there needs to be more regulation around this.” 

The Jake Paul video is just one example of how quickly AI is blurring the line between reality and fiction. What began as a tool for convenience is now challenging our idea of authorship. As AI-generated art, writing, and media take over digital spaces faster than ethics or legislation can catch up, we’re forced to ask: when does AI stop being a tool—and start being the author? 

A Threat to Creativity 

The concept of AI crossing the line in terms of authorship isn’t just hypothetical – artists are already living it. In 2022, a man named Jason Allen won the Colorado State Fair’s fine art competition with a piece generated entirely by an AI program called Midjourney. A year later, a similar controversy resurfaced when German photographer Boris Eldagsen turned down the Sony World Photography award after revealing that his winning “photo” was created with AI. Eldagsen later called himself a “cheeky monkey” for submitting the image, saying it was meant to test the judges’ ability to spot AI-generated work. 

These incidents raised a new question for artists everywhere: if AI can create something convincing enough to fool judges, where does that leave the real artists who’ve spent years perfecting their craft? 

“When I’m painting or drawing, the use of AI can lead me to feel discouraged,” said UNCG student, Lila Neeves. “Since AI can form a perfect picture essentially, it makes artwork seem underappreciated.” 

That sense of discouragement isn’t isolated. Across creative communities, artists are questioning where the line is drawn between originality and imitation. How will art be defined when anyone can type a few words into a prompt and produce in seconds what once took a human months of effort? 

The Illusion of Authenticity 

Earlier this year, social media users were introduced to Tilly Norwood—a rising actress who appeared in interviews, photoshoots, and even brand collaborations. But Tilly isn’t destined to be the next Scarlett Johansson, as her creators might have hoped—because she doesn’t exist. Tilly is an AI-generated persona, designed by digital production company Xicoia. 

To some, Tilly represents groundbreaking innovation in the film industry. To others, she’s a luminescent red flag of what happens when technology begins to replace reality.  

“It’s taking away so many jobs of so many talented people,” said high school student Emmy Barnhill. “When humans are creating art, it has true emotion in it. AI can’t feel emotion; it can only copy what it thinks emotion is.” 

That tension between imitation and authenticity extends beyond art. If AI can convincingly simulate a human actor, what stops it from simulating public figures and influencing our political sphere? 

AI as a Political Weapon 

In February 2025, the official White House social media account posted an AI-generated image of Trump crowned as royalty, captioned: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING! — President Donald J. Trump.” Three months later, another post showed him dressed as the pope, just days after Pope Francis’s death. Then, in October, Trump shared a deepfake video of himself piloting a fighter jet labeled King Trump and dumping sludge onto “No Kings” protestors below. 

The posts, intended to glorify the president’s image, sparked outrage and confusion online. Many questioned whether they were satire or propaganda—and raised broader ethical concerns about the official White House account posting fabricated AI content. 

The Devaluation of Skill 

The exponential rise of AI in art, media, and politics reflects a broader trend: technology is moving faster than society can adapt. Experts are already warning of an “AI bubble,” defined by Jared Bernstein as a “vast gap between investment levels and the actual ‘credible expectations’ for future profits.” From journalism to graphic design to music and therapy, tasks that once required years of training can now be accomplished in seconds, leaving skilled professionals at risk of not only losing income but recognition for their expertise.  

“I hate, hate, hate AI being used in any type of workplace,” said UNCG student Karis Hudgins, expressing the frustration that many feel as technology begins to replace human effort.  

As AI continues to advance, the tension between speed and efficiency and emotion and authenticity grows. The concern isn’t just whether machines can replicate human work, but whether society will continue to value the human effort behind it. 

Key Takeaways 

From viral deepfakes to AI-generated award winners, from virtual actors like Tilly Norwood to fabricated political imagery, AI is reshaping culture, creativity, and trust. Artists like Lila Neeves and Emmy Barnhill worry that human skill and emotion are being undervalued, while Karis Hudgins voices concern over seeing technology replace years of carefully honed craft. The exponential rise of AI in nearly every aspect of society—fueled by views, profit, and mind-boggling technological advancement—raises urgent ethical, cultural, and economic questions. 

Ultimately, the debate isn’t about what AI can do, but what we choose to value as humans. Even if a machine can create a perfect painting, viral video, or a convincing public persona, the choice is ours. Where do our values lie? Do we prioritize fame and profit, or do we honor authenticity, emotion, and human connections that only real art can cultivate? After all, humans created AI. Our minds are far more powerful than any algorithm. At our core, it is our passion, creativity, and empathy that can shape the future of humanity.