A new iPhone feature can make a copy of your voice. Could scammers use it for deepfakes? A German company will freeze your body for over $200,000, hoping to bring you back to life later. Plus, Taco Bell brings AI to the drive-thru, and be wary of fake Facebook stores.
Deepfake warning: 6 signs the video you’re watching isn’t real
Have you seen the crazy deepfakes of “Barbie” star Margot Robbie? There’s one of her scrubbing a floor that looks so real, it’s shocking.
If that one was new to you, I’m sure you’re familiar with the infamous deepfake Tom Cruise that took the internet by storm. That one was so successful it spawned an entire deepfake company. Or maybe you remember when the Pope was walking around in a hip puffer jacket. Nah, wasn’t him.
From speeches of world leaders to clips of our favorite celebrities, deepfake videos are everywhere you turn. There are tried and true ways to pick them out. I’ll walk you through six tactics to help you become a deepfake super sleuth.
1. Face shape is a dead giveaway.
In a deepfake, measurements and proportions are typically off, even if it’s ever so slightly. The ears are the most challenging part of the face to fake, so start there.
Pro tip: Hit pause on the video and see if the structure of the face feels “off.” Your brain can perceive this pretty well since we look at real faces so often.
2. Go to the source.
Is that social media vid the real thing or a clone with a different message? Find the original footage.
Pro tip: Search related keywords on Google and social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. If you’re struggling with ways to search, you can even take screenshots of critical parts of the video and do a reverse image search.
3. Watch the mannerisms and expressions.
They’re as unique as their fingerprints. President Obama’s signature head lift and slight frown were present whenever he’d say “hi everybody” in his weekly addresses. If the star of your video in question seems like an impersonator, they very well could be.
Pro tip: Watch a few videos of the person in the potential deepfake and compare.
Deepfake scams: Billionaire Warren Buffett wants everyone to know he’s not endorsing any investment products or political candidates. Remember, whenever a celebrity or high-profile figure promotes something, always check their official social media accounts to confirm it’s legit.
🚨 AI voice scams spreading: An elderly father was duped out of $25,000 after scammers called him using an AI-generated voice of his son. The caller, his “son,” claimed he’d hit a pregnant woman while driving and needed bail money ASAP. The father withdrew the cash, an Uber picked it up, and the con artists disappeared. Reminder: Scammers thrive on fear and urgency, so always verify phone numbers and set up a family safe word for emergencies.
🚨 Celebrity shakedown: Taylor Swift, Johnny Depp and Kylie Jenner are among the top 10 celebs fraudsters deepfake to push phony giveaways, endorsements and crypto investments. Their scams are getting harder to spot, as the deepfaked versions look and sound a lot like the real stars. Always check a celebrity’s official social pages before you buy anything they’re pitching.
🛡️ A win against deepfakes: The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the first bill to crack down on AI porn. The bill will let victims sue anyone who creates or distributes explicit content depicting the victims without their consent, with a 10-year statute of limitations. You know more regulations are coming.
👊 Fighting deepfakes: Teen girls like Elliston Berry are sharing their horror stories with AI nudes that left them feeling “shameful.” Now, lawmakers are doing something about it. A new bill would criminalize nonconsensual deepfakes (paywall link) and make platforms and websites take down pictures within 48 hours of notice from the victim. Finally!
Deepfakes and Joe Biden's White House
The White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, claims viral videos of President Biden looking frail or confused are deepfakes. But are they really? Here’s the story.
🚨 Russian propaganda: The Kremlin is using deepfakes, fake news sites and social media attacks to undermine the upcoming U.S. elections. “D.C. Weekly,” “Boston Times” and “Election Watch” are just some of the names of their fake outlets. Stick to trusted news sources. It’s going to get a lot worse in the coming months.
Scammers use your videos for deepfakes
Plus, an interview with a a guy who lost big money to fake investments — and he’s smart, folks! It could happen to anyone.
Rappin’ Lisa: Microsoft’s new AI tool, VASA-1, animates still images into videos loaded with facial expressions, head motions and lip movements that match a speech or song. Here’s a video showing the Mona Lisa rapping. Microsoft is delaying the release of this tool, though, because it makes creating deepfakes too easy.
Phony Fabios: Think you’re being catfished? You used to be able to out them with a video call. Not anymore. Romance scammers are using video deepfakes to change their appearances in real time. They record themselves on a phone or webcam and use a face-swapping app to pose as another online cutie and charm victims — aka ask for money.
Deepfake p*rn survivor fights back
In 2020, Breeze Liu found a nude video of herself — recorded without her knowledge — on P*rnhub. That video then spiraled into hundreds of deepfakes created of her. Seeking help to take them down, she found little to none. Now, she’s taking matters into her own hands.
Scammers can use YOUR videos for deepfakes
Plus, an interview with a guy who lost big money to fake investments — and he’s smart, folks. It can happen to anyone!
Deepfakes using your kid's voice
Got one of those frightening calls? Don’t panic. Check out these tips on how to avoid falling for it.
This fear keeps Sam Altman up at night
Plus, your AI girlfriend collects a lot of data. Kim and Andrew also talk the White House’s plan to tackle deepfakes, and take a look back at the first kiss ever recorded.
😏 Dig deep: The White House says a new plan to “cryptographically verify” videos of President Biden is “in the works.” That’s right — the WH is working on ways to prevent AI-generated deepfakes from spreading. Really? Now? I suggested this a full 18 months ago.
AI naked pics in high school
How dangerous are deepfakes for our youth? A scandal at Westfield High School, New Jersey, hints it’s merely the tip of the iceberg.
Celeb AI fakes are everywhere
No, Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you a dental plan. In this podcast, some tricks to spotting celeb deepfakes. Also, stay tuned, as I answer one of your questions!
First presidential false AI-generated attack ads appear
Is this just the start for deepfakes in politics? Here’s my take, in 60 seconds.