At the center of this storm is a figure like Anya Taylor-Joy, a talented young actress known for her roles in The Queen's Gambit and The New Mutants . While Taylor-Joy has built a loyal fan base, her likeness has also been used in various forms of fan-made content, including deepfakes. These AI-generated videos, often created using machine learning algorithms, can be unsettling and even disturbing, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

The term "deepfake" was coined in 2017, when a Reddit user began creating and sharing AI-generated videos of celebrities, including actresses like Taylor-Joy and Emma Watson. These early deepfakes were often created for entertainment purposes, with users generating humorous or satirical content. However, as the technology has improved and become more accessible, the potential for misuse has grown.

The creation and dissemination of deepfakes raise significant ethical concerns. When a person's likeness is used without their consent, it can be considered a form of exploitation. This is particularly true when the content is used for commercial purposes or to spread misinformation.