As a part of its “next generation propaganda aspirations,” the U.S. government plans to use deepfake videos, according to a recent report. While it’s warning employees of deepfake job applications and developing tools to detect it, it appears that the government doesn’t have an issue with using deepfake videos for its own agenda.
Deepfake technology is now being used to “visually dub” movies to remove profanity for PG-13 ratings
This is probably the most practical and one of the least creepy ways I’ve seen deepfake technology being used since it was initially created. While it’s had some very impressive showcases, particularly as an alternative to badly CGI’d versions of actors looking years younger than they are or even bringing them back from the dead, this application is a little less drastic and a little more seamless.
In what is being termed “vubbing”, deepfake technology is being used to generate new frames when lines are changed in post or certain things (like profanity) are cut out completely in order to appease the censors (the MPAA, in this case). With deepfake technology falling far below the budget of reshoots, it makes a lot of sense, but that the technology has come this far so quickly is also very impressive.
MegaPortraits turns your photos into creepily accurate deepfake videos
Deepfakes have been a thing for a while now, and they’ve been used for fun, useful, but also malicious purposes. Samsung has now introduced yet another deepfake tool that turns a single still image into a creepily accurate video.
Samsung’s Megapixel portraits, or MegaPortraits, is able to create high-resolution human avatars. All it needs is a single portrait, and it doesn’t even have to be a photo – you can also turn paintings into moving portraits, for some extra creepiness.
Hackers using deepfakes to apply for jobs, says FBI
Just when you thought the world couldn’t get any weirder, it just did. The FBI is warning companies to be vigilant. Hackers are creating deep fakes using stolen identities to apply for remote jobs. Yes, you read that correctly. The warning was posted as a public service announcement on the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
The FBI explained how cybercriminals are stealing Americans’ personal identifiable information (PII) and applying for remote jobs. They then use deepfake videos to pass online job interviews.
Mother uses deepfakes to get her daughter’s cheerleading “rivals” kicked off the team
A woman from Pennsylvania was recently accused of using deepfake videos to harass teenage girls and their families. She reportedly used their images and sent them to the girls’ cheerleading coach. And why would she do that? So that she would try and get her daughter’s “rivals” get kicked off the team.
Scientists prove that deepfake detectors aren’t perfect and can still be tricked
Deepfakes are simultaneously both an amazing technological achievement and also scary as hell. The potential for movies and VFX work is huge, as has been proven by a number of YouTube channels showing deep fakes vs the CG versions of characters that have reappeared in various Star Wars movies. But there are obvious nefarious implications of such technology, too.
While the recreations of deceased actors in movies are most definitely fake, deepfake videos of those still living are not always so obvious. Tech gains like Microsoft and Facebook have been working on counter-technology to spot deepfakes to help prevent the spread of misinformation online. A group of researches from UC San Diego has proven, though, that they’re far from perfect.
This new tool detects deepfakes by searching for heartbeat
Deepfake videos are getting more and more advanced at a rapid pace. They could be misused in all sorts of ways, so it’s no wonder that scientists are working hard on spotting them. A new tool developed at Binghamton University detects deepfakes by analyzing the person in them and looking signs of life that may not be visible to the naked eye: a heartbeat. [Read More…]
Twitter soon to start labeling manipulated photos and deepfake videos
As an attempt to stop fake news from spreading, Twitter is soon going to start labeling deceptive content. This includes “deceptively edited” photos, deepfake videos, and manipulated content that could cause “harm to physical safety, widespread civil unrest, voter suppression or privacy risks.”
Cameras of the future could have fake photo detectors built right in
Image manipulation has never been easier or more accessible. From professional photo editing software to game-like apps on our phones, there are plenty of options to fake images nowadays. In an attempt to spot and prevent fake images, a group of scientists has suggested a pretty unusual detection method. They want to implement a fake photo detection system directly into cameras.
Samsung has developed an AI that turns still images into talking portraits
Deepfake has become a pretty hot topic in the world of visual AI over the last couple of years, and it’s come a very long way in a short amount of time. It’s an incredible and terrifying technology. And now Samsung has jumped on the bandwagon.
Researchers at the Samsung AI Center in Mosci and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology have published a new paper detailing their new software that generates 3D animated heads from a still image. And while it’s not perfect, to be able to do this from a handful or even a single image is pretty mindblowing.
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