Reality in the Era of Deepfakes

Part of Brilliance of Berkeley, offered by the College of Letters & Science

Generative AI — so-called deepfakes — have captured the imagination of some and struck fear in others. Although they vary in their form and creation, deepfakes refer to image, audio, or video that has been automatically synthesized by a machine-learning system. Deepfakes are the latest in a long line of techniques used to manipulate reality, yet their introduction poses new opportunities and risks due to the democratized access to what would have historically been the purview of Hollywood-style studios. I will discuss how these latest AI-powered technologies work, how deepfakes are being used and misused, if (and how) they can be distinguished from reality, and how — when misused — they hold the potential to destabilize societies and democracies.

This lecture is part of the Brilliance of Berkeley, a course highlighting luminary faculty representing Berkeley’s wide range of colleges and schools. I School faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend in person.

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