Director James Cameron has raised points about the dangers of synthetic media called deepfakes. In a recent BBC interview, the filmmaker behind the sci-fi epic Terminator expressed his fears about the technology. He warns that building on deepfake technology could make it easier to destroy humanity in the future.
Deepfakes use machine learning to create fake but realistic media footage of anyone doing anything. If you have ever seen Gal Gadot and Taylor Swift in an adult video together, then you’ve seen a deepfake. Have you seen Jon Snow say sorry for the sad ending of Game of Thrones? That is fake footage as well.
And these are just a few deepfake examples that are pervading the net. But James Cameron’s take on deepfakes points to the dangers of applying fake content to different fields of society.
How do deepfakes work?
Deepfakes, a mix of deep learning and fake, is a rising tech that creates false media footage. It uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to teach computers to manipulate and create realistic content.
Deepfake makers can modify videos, replace a person’s face with another, and make them say whatever the creators want.
Fake content and media have been online for years. However, it was only in 2017 when someone shared fake videos on Reddit and has sparked interest ever since. The user posted celebrity engaged in adult activities. Since then, online users have created fake videos for memes and laughs.
However, in recent years, deepfakes have expanded from the world of entertainment to politics. This makes it a powerful tool to spread false information, troll users, and harass people online. And this is the effect of deepfakes James Cameron is worried about.
The dangers of false content
James Cameron believes that developing deepfake technology creates a toolbox for creators to spread fake media. Aside from that, he also thinks that this could undermine our reality experience. Over time, people and institutions will realize that these can serve a more sinister purpose.
James Cameron’s take on deepfakes has been echoed by many. He attributes the danger of deepfakes to the fast nature of our news cycles. The tendency of conspiracy theories to spread online and the accessibility of deepfake tech to more people will likely create more problems in the future.
In fact, he thinks that if Skynet, the evil AI in Terminator, ever shows up in the real world, it would use AI to plot our downfall. It could easily create fake videos to fool people and sow discord. This is not only on a personal level but also on a political and global scale as well. If troll farms, terrorists, and other institutions get their hands on this technology, then they could use it to spread propaganda.
Identifying deepfakes and their effects on the future
Over time, it is becoming harder to know which footage is real or fake. This, and the fast cycle of news, will make it easier to destroy trust among society. The erosion of trust can further erode the credibility of news and the truth. In that case, this doesn’t only affect our lives on social media. It could also trick our eyes in front of the court, custody battles, and even in huge tribunals.
James Cameron hopes that critical thinking will help people identify deepfakes.
In the future, AIs that can detect small differences between real and fake content will be the key to checking whether the footage is real or not. Fighting tech with tech can be the key to regulating the release of harmful media.
