THE HIDDEN THREATS OF AI AND DEEPFAKES

In the past decade artificial intelligence has transformed from a niche technological curiosity into a central force shaping nearly every aspect of modern life.

- By: Giselle Gunewardene

From self-driving cars to personalized recommendations on social media platforms Al has become deeply embedded in society. While the benefits of artificial intelligence are undeniable it is equally important to examine the risks it poses. Among the most concerning developments is the rise of deepfakes a technology that allows the creation of highly realistic but entirely fabricated audio and video content. As Al and deepfakes become more sophisticated the potential for misuse grows exponentially creating challenges that extend beyond technology into the realms of politics ethics and personal safety.

Deepfakes are a product of generative AI technology which can manipulate images video and audio to create content that is almost indistinguishable from reality. The process relies on complex neural networks trained on vast datasets that allow the system to learn the nuances of human speech facial expressions and gestures. With enough data a deepfake can be made to show a public figure saying something they never actually said or performing actions that never occurred. The accuracy of these fakes has reached a level where even experts may struggle to detect them without specialized tools. What was once the domain of amateur pranksters and experimental artists has now become a tool with the potential to manipulate public perception on a massive scale.