Deepfake: Know About the Dicey Technology
Published on : Friday 05-01-2024
Public awareness and education are critical components of mitigating the impact of deepfakes, says Benedicta Chettiar.
The advent of deepfake in the rapidly changing world of digital technology has sparked both curiosity and alarm. The term ‘deepfake’ describes the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce hyper-realistic fake content, usually in the form of pictures or videos.
Deepfake technology has intriguing potential uses in entertainment and filmmaking, but there are also serious ethical, legal, and security concerns that need to be taken into account. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised concerns about the misuse of this AI technology.
During a recent conference, the Prime Minister stated that a large number of deepfakes created with AI seemed quite authentic and that the resulting misinformation could cause significant harm. “A new crisis is emerging due to deepfakes produced through artificial intelligence. There is a very big section of society which does not have a parallel verification system,” he said.
In general, deepfakes convert existing real source content where one person is swapped for another. This AI technology also generates wholly original content in which a character is shown saying or doing something that they did not say or do.
The technology behind deepfakes
Deepfake technology makes use of generative adversarial networks (GANs), one type of deep learning algorithm. GANs consist of two neural networks, a discriminator and a generator, that work together to continuously produce and assess content. Through learning from large datasets, this dynamic process enables the AI to improve its capacity to generate remarkably lifelike simulations of human faces and voices.
Deepfake: Applications and implications
The initial applications of deepfake technology were frequently rooted in entertainment, allowing filmmakers or directors to resurrect deceased actors or seamlessly integrate actors into scenes they were not originally a part of. However, the widespread availability of deepfake tools has paved the way for potential abuse.
The implications of deepfake technology go far beyond harmless entertainment, ranging from fabricating political speeches to manipulating sensitive content for malevolent ends.
Social and political consequences
Deepfakes have raised a lot of concerns due to their potential to sway public opinion and interfere with democratic processes. It is possible now to portray political figures as spreading misleading information that confuses and misinforms the public. This, in turn, makes it more difficult to distinguish manipulated fabrications from real information due to the viral spread of deepfake content on social media platforms.
Legal and ethical challenges
Deepfake technology is developing at a rate that legal frameworks cannot keep up with. Regulating and controlling the spread of deepfake content is made more difficult by issues with jurisdiction, accountability, and the line between free speech and harmful manipulation. The production of false information and the possible harm to people who might unintentionally become subjects of manipulated content present an ethical conundrum.
Educating the public
Public awareness and education are critical components of mitigating the impact of deepfakes. Individuals can become more discerning digital content consumers by understanding the capabilities and risks of this technology. Media literacy programs and public campaigns are also critical in empowering people to critically evaluate the authenticity of information available online.
The final thought
Deepfake technology is a two-edged sword, offering incredible possibilities in entertainment and creativity while also posing significant threats to society. It takes a coordinated effort from technology developers, legislators, and the general public to strike a balance between utilising the potential of AI for good and protecting against bad use.
It is no wonder that deepfake technology will shape our digital landscape in the future. Therefore, ethical considerations and careful regulation will be essential as we navigate this unexplored territory of the digital landscape.
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Benedicta Chettiar is Director, IED Communications and Manager, Strategic Developments, Industrial Automation. Besides these roles, Beni, as she is known, is also actively managing the affairs of Jyothi Process, a state-of-the-art printing press.
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