Downsides of Deepfake Technology: From Ethics to Reality TV

“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” ~ George Orwell, 1984

The Moral Downside of Deepfake

For those unfamiliar with deepfake, it is a term used for artificial intelligence that can create incredibly realistic fake videos and audios. These deepfakes are so convincing that they can deceive viewers into believing they are real. The power of deepfake technology continues to grow as we see advancements in AI and increasingly powerful computer chips.

Deepfakes are created by using real images and videos to fabricate false depictions of people saying or doing things they never actually did. You might come across deepfakes of Frank Sinatra singing “Gangster Paradise,” Donald Trump being chased by the NYPD, or even Gal Gadot, the actress who played Wonder Woman, deepfaked into the staring role in an adult movie.

Here’s The Thing: With the rapid rise in AI capabilities, faster computer chips and open source development, the creation of deepfakes is becoming more accessible to anyone with an internet connection, often requiring as little as a $10 a month subscription. Unfortunately, many of these…