A Guide to the Realities of Fake Realities | Deepfakes Explained.

Imagine scrolling through your feed and stumbling on a video of Keir Starmer declaring war or Meghan Markle endorsing McDonald’s. Your first instinct? “Wait… is this real?” Welcome to the wild world of deepfakes, where reality is no longer a given, and truth is up for debate.

Deepfakes aren’t just another flashy tech trend—they’re a fascinating, occasionally alarming, glimpse into what happens when AI gets creative. But before you panic and throw your phone into the nearest river, let’s break it down. What are deepfakes? How do they work? And how do we stop ourselves from losing our minds (or our trust in everything we see)?

So, What Is a Deepfake?

At its core, a deepfake is a piece of media—video, audio, or image—that’s been manipulated using artificial intelligence to make it look or sound real. Think of it as Photoshop’s brainier, much sneakier cousin. Instead of simply cutting and pasting, deepfakes use AI algorithms to mimic facial movements, voices, and even expressions so convincingly that they can fool the human eye (and ear).

The term “deepfake” comes from “deep learning,” a type of machine learning where AI systems are trained on massive datasets to recreate realistic visuals or sounds. Want to put yourself in your favourite movie scene? Create a video of someone saying something they’ve never said? With deepfake technology, the sky’s the limit. Fun, right? Well… sometimes.

The Good, the Bad, and the Deeply Fake

Like most tech, deepfakes come with both exciting possibilities and serious concerns. Let’s start with the positives—because, yes, there are positives.

The Good

• Preserving Voices: Deepfake technology has helped people who’ve lost their voices due to medical conditions regain their ability to speak in their own tone and style.¹

• Revolutionising Learning: Museums and galleries are using deepfakes to bring history to life. Imagine Salvador Dalí giving you a personal tour of his artwork or Albert Einstein explaining his theories himself.²

• Entertainment: Hollywood has already embraced deepfakes to age or de-age actors, improve dubbing, and even resurrect stars for posthumous roles. (James Dean is reportedly starring in a new movie!)³

Eminem stunned the VMAs by performing alongside a live deepfake of his alter ego, Slim Shady. Using a stand-in actor for movements, real-time deepfake technology projected an incredibly convincing Slim for both the audience and viewers.

The Bad

• Misinformation: A fake video of a world leader making inflammatory remarks could spark panic, shift public opinion, or even influence elections.⁴

• Harassment and Exploitation: Unfortunately, the vast majority of deepfakes online are pornographic, with most targeting women without their consent. According to a 2019 report, 96% of deepfake videos online were pornographic.⁵

• Erosion of Trust: When everything can be faked, even the truth becomes suspect. This “zero-trust society” could make it easier for bad actors to dismiss legitimate evidence as fake.⁶

How Do Deepfakes Work?

If you’re not a tech wizard, the process might sound complex, but here’s the gist:
1️⃣ Gather the Data: AI systems are trained on hundreds (or thousands) of images, videos, or audio clips of a person.
2️⃣ Learn the Patterns: The AI studies facial movements, voice inflections, and other nuances to mimic them perfectly.
3️⃣ Generate the Fake: Using this data, the AI creates a new piece of media where the person appears to say or do things they never actually did.

The result? A convincing fake that can be nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye—especially as the technology improves.

How Can You Spot a Deepfake?

While deepfakes are getting more sophisticated, they’re not perfect. Here are some tips to help you separate fact from fiction:
1️⃣ Watch for Weird Details: Look closely at the person’s eyes, mouth, and hands. Do their blinks seem off? Are their fingers oddly shaped? Small inconsistencies are often giveaways.⁷
2️⃣ Pay Attention to Lighting: Are the shadows and highlights consistent? Poorly made deepfakes often have unnatural lighting or mismatched tones.
3️⃣ Check the Context: Does the video seem out of character for the person? Cross-check facts like the location, time, or weather with reliable sources.
4️⃣ Trust, But Verify: If something feels off, it probably is. Search for the original source or see if reputable news outlets are covering it.

A viral TikTok channel features an uncanny deepfake of Keanu Reeves, blending his charm with absurd scenarios. The AI-generated likeness is so convincing that many initially believed it was real, sparking both amusement and discussions about the ethics and impact of hyper-realistic deepfake entertainment.

What Can You Do About Deepfakes?

You don’t need to be a tech expert to protect yourself (and others) from the potential harms of deepfakes. Here’s how you can play your part:

1️⃣ Stay Curious, Not Cynical
It’s easy to fall into the trap of distrusting everything you see online. Instead, approach content with healthy skepticism. Ask questions, fact-check, and don’t be afraid to dig deeper.

2️⃣ Share Responsibly
Before hitting “share,” pause and think: “Is this credible? Could this be fake?” Misinformation spreads like wildfire, so be part of the solution, not the problem.

3️⃣ Advocate for Accountability
Support platforms and policies that aim to detect and regulate deepfakes. Many tech companies are working on AI-driven tools to spot fakes, and governments are beginning to introduce legislation to combat their misuse.⁸

4️⃣ Embrace the Positives
Deepfake technology isn’t inherently evil—it’s all about how it’s used. Explore creative, ethical ways to engage with it, whether that’s experimenting with fun apps or supporting organisations using deepfakes for good.

Living in a Deepfake World

Deepfakes are a fascinating, albeit unnerving, reflection of the power of AI. They challenge us to rethink how we consume media and highlight the importance of critical thinking in our hyper-connected age. But they’re also a reminder of something bigger: technology is only as good—or as harmful—as the people who use it.

So, the next time you see a video or hear a suspicious audio clip, pause. Question. Verify. And remember, the key to living in this brave new world isn’t fear—it’s awareness, curiosity, and a commitment to staying informed.

Shape a future where technology empowers, rather than deceives. 🌟

Sources

1. The Guardian: "What are deepfakes – and how can you spot them?"

2. BBC Newsround: "Deepfake technology: What is it, how does it work, and what can it be used for?"

3. Forbes: "James Dean and the Ethics of Using Deepfakes in Hollywood"

4. Nature: "Deepfakes and the threat to democracy"

5. Deeptrace Report: "The State of Deepfakes 2019"

6. Newcastle University: "Internet law expert warns of 'zero-trust society'"

7. BBC: "Top Tips for Spotting a Deepfake"

8. The Verge: "AI tools to detect deepfakes"