Is That Really Them?

You're browsing the internet in the age of AI. You use the internet with a sense of open minded curiosity but with a greater sense of caution and common sense. You're a well-rounded and intelligent person. You'd know if something looked off.

In the midst of your clicks and scrolls through the net, you come across a video of a well known celebrity. Allow your imagination to fill in the blank of who that celebrity might me.

You view the video but something feels off. The more you watch this celebrity, from their facial expressions to their movements, even to the way they talk, you start to question what you're even watching. Is this video even real?

And then you realize that you might be dealing with a deepfake.

Deepfakes - an image or video of a person or their voice alone that has been altered usually for malicious intent such as for spreading false information.

The internet has become an ingrained part of our everyday lives. It wasn't that long ago in 1997 when less than 15% of households had access to the internet. Now that number has skyrocketed to approximately 96%.

The many times you've used the internet, the greater chances are that you very well might have come across a deepfake whether you realized it or not.

Technology has become more and more advanced within just the last few decades being created and innovated to better serve our daily lives. But with this advancement in technology comes the unsettling idea that it might be too good for human kind.

Deepfakes are the startling realization of the dark side of living in the age of AI. They have evolved into the uncomfortable and even near terrifying realization that we are now questioning the reality of what we are seeing on the internet.

They are a perfect example of technology falling into the wrong hands. Scam artists are just one example. For instance, they can create a deepfake version of a loved one whether it be of their voice or image in which they ask for a large sum of money.

Even more unsettling, celebrities and politicians aren't the only targets of becoming deepfakes. Probably even more disturbing, school age children have become a victim of cyber bullying and deepfakes.

Deepfakes have become so realistic that it is now near impossible to distinguish what is even authentic. It has come to a point where the voice of the real person and the voice of the AI generated deepfake voice of that person is near difficult to differentiate.

What's worse is that a majority of people get their information from the internet. There is a great chance that anyone can or has already encountered a deepfake. Even more startling, anyone could have thought it was authentic.

The reality is that as with the existence of AI, deepfakes are a part of our lives. At least while we're on the internet.

With that in mind, it can't hurt and is even crucial to know how to spot a deepfake.

Here's what to look for:

• Pay close attention to the face. If the face moves at a 90 degree angle and glitches while the head turns, that's a good sign that it's deepfake generated.
• Pay attention to shadows. Are there any shadows cast that don't make sense?
• Pay attention to things like blinking. If the blinking looks off as in too much or not enough, that is another sign it might be a deepfake.

As advanced as deepfakes are, they aren't perfect and can't replicate the real thing 100%.

Taking the time and being more aware of a deepfake is important when browsing the internet and can even save you a lot of trouble.

As with AI, deepfakes are just another example of just how far we have come with technology within the last few decades. They are also a perfect example of the downside of such technology.

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