Japanese man arrested for fraud after creating female AI-image persona to sell dating adviceVid [Video]

One man’s virtual avatar shows that online fantasy can have real-life consequences.

In recent years, with the ongoing advancements of new technology, more content creators have been developing online personas to attract and interact with viewers, as seen with the growing number of virtual YouTubers, or VTubers. Some may use this technology to create a recognizable mascot character or to separate their real and online identities. Others, lacking self-confidence, might hide behind a fictional representation. However, there are also some people who use AR and AI technology to deceive others.

▼ Better AI means less effort for fraudsters to put in.

In early 2024, Kaiga Yokota, a 33-year-old resident of Moriguchi, Osaka, used AI to design a character so realistic that it could be mistaken for a real woman. He proceeded to set up social media accounts and pose as this woman online, advertising his services to help people become more …