The term “deepfake” may sound like science fiction, conjuring images of robots and buzzing computers. However, the concept has long been with us: counterfeiting, for example, has long been a reality, and even spy movies of yore are peppered with fraudulent usage of technology the hero must overcome.
What then is the reality of deepfakes of today, and why should they concern us? The term, which combines “deep learning” and “fakes,” nods to an evolving landscape of computer-generated images and sound. At a time with a great deal of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) transparency and fairness, deepfakes are a critical area for future planning. Natural language processing, for example, is growing by leaps and bounds — one of the richest areas of AI and a particular challenge when it comes to the evolution of deepfakes.