Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Holborow, and welcome to computing.

I'm so pleased you've decided to join me for the lesson today.

In today's lesson, you're going to be exploring deepfakes.

What is a deepfake, and are deepfakes always harmful? Welcome to today's lesson from the unit "Using Data Science and AI Tools Effectively and Safely." This lesson is called "Deepfakes and Trust," and by the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to define and explain the risks and benefits of deepfake technology.

Shall we make a start? We will be exploring these keywords throughout today's lesson.

Let's take a look at them together now.

Deepfake.

Deepfake: a fake video, picture, or sound made with AI technology that looks or sounds real but isn't.

Misinformation.

Misinformation: false or inaccurate information.

Manipulate.

Manipulate: to trick, deceive, or influence people to change their belief about something.

Look out for these keywords throughout today's lesson.

Today's lesson is broken down into two parts.

We're going to start by defining deepfakes, and then we're going to move on to explain risks and benefits of deepfake technology.

Let's start by defining deepfakes.

Alex says, "Hey, Jacob, did you see that video of a celebrity saying something bad about a politician on social media? It turned out it wasn't real." Jacob says, "Yes, I did.

That's a deepfake, a fake video created with AI technology to make it look and sound realistic." Have you ever heard about a deepfake video or ever seen one? Deepfakes are synthetic media generated using artificial intelligence, or AI, technology.

Deepfake AI technology is used to alter or create: images, audio, and videos.

The AI technology used to generate deepfake media uses machine learning.

ML models are trained on large sets of data such as images, videos, or audio recordings.

Once trained, the machine learning model can recognise patterns in data.

These patterns may include how faces and bodies move or how voices sound.

The system uses the identified patterns to generate new media that looks or sounds realistic.

Alex says, "So how are deepfakes different than media created on traditional video, image, or audio editing software?" Do you know the answer to this question? Maybe pause the video whilst you have a think.

Jacob says, "Deepfakes use ML models to generate new, highly realistic synthetic content rather than being manually created or edited by humans." Deepfakes are usually much harder to spot because the changes often look natural rather than obviously edited.

Deepfake images are photographs that have been altered or generated by AI.

Alex says, "They may be realistic-looking pictures of people, events, or objects that never actually existed." Deepfake audio is sound that has been generated or altered using artificial intelligence.

Alex says, "It can reproduce a person's voice to say words they never actually spoke or create entirely synthetic speech that sounds realistic." Deepfake videos are videos in which artificial intelligence has been used to alter or generate the visual and/or audio content.

Alex says, "They can make people appear to do things they never actually did or create entirely synthetic scenes that look realistic." Alex has got a question: "So what could deepfakes actually be used for?" Have you got any ideas? Maybe pause the video and have a think.

Jacob says, "Like most technologies, Alex, they can be used for both positive and negative purposes." There are a number of uses of deepfake technology.

Some are useful and some are harmful.

Deepfake media has a number of positive uses, such as: recreating historical figures and scenes for film and TV, generating videos that convert audio into sign language, generating realistic characters and immersive experiences in video games.

Sadly, deepfake technology has also been applied in harmful negative ways, such as: creating media to spread misinformation by showing events that never happened, using deepfake voices to commit fraud by authorising payments, damaging people's reputations by showing people doing or saying things that they never did.

Alex says, "I've heard deepfakes can be used to manipulate people's feelings or beliefs." Sofia says, "How can we tell if something is a deepfake or if it is real?" Can you think in any ways that you might be able to tell the difference? Jacob says, "Deepfakes can be so realistic that it's often difficult or impossible to tell whether media is real or artificially created." Always verify media using trusted sources before believing, sharing, or acting on any media you see or hear.

Okay, I have a question for you.

What technology is mainly used to create deepfakes? Is it A, rule-based artificial intelligence technology? B, machine learning models? Or C, animation software? Pause the video whilst you have a think.

Did you select B? Well done.

Machine learning models are mainly used to create deepfakes.

Okay, I have a true or false statement for you now.

"Deepfakes can be so realistic that it is often difficult or impossible to tell whether media is real or artificially created." Is this true or false? Pause the video whilst you have a think.

That's right.

The statement was true.

Deepfakes can be so realistic, it's often difficult or impossible to tell whether the media is real or was created using AI.

Another true or false statement for you.

"Deepfake technology is only used for negative reasons, such as spreading misinformation or committing fraud." Is this true or false? Pause the video whilst you think about your answer.

That's right.

It's false.

Although deepfake technology can be used for negative purposes, it can also be used in positive ways.

For example, generating videos that convert audio into sign language.

Okay, we're moving on to the first task of today's lesson: Task A.

Sam says, "I've heard my friends talk about deepfakes.

What are they for?" For part one, in your own words, A, write two to three sentences to describe deepfakes to Sam.

For part B, state one example of a positive use and one example of a negative use of deepfake technology.

Pause the video whilst you complete the task.

How did you get on? Did you manage to define deepfakes and explain them to Sam? Well done.

Let's have a look at a sample answer together.

So for part one, A, you were asked to write two to three sentences to describe deepfakes to Sam.

Deepfakes are very realistic images, videos, or audio that have been created or altered using AI technology that uses machine learning models.

ML models are trained on large sets of data such as real-life images, videos, or audio recordings.

Deepfake technology can be used in both positive and negative ways.

For part B, you were asked to state one example of a positive use and one example of a negative use of deepfake technology.

A positive use of deepfake technology would be to recreate historical figures and scenes for a film or TV show.

A negative use of deepfake technology would be to intentionally spread misinformation by creating and sharing fake events that never actually happened.

Remember, if you've got slightly different examples, that's absolutely fine.

If you need to pause the video here and add any detail to your answer, you can do that now.

Let's move on to the second part of today's lesson, where we're going to explain risks and benefits of deepfake technology.

Sam says, "Wow! Deepfake AI technologies are powerful tools for creating media.

They must be really smart." Do you agree with Sam's statement? Maybe pause the video whilst you have a think.

Sofia says, "AI technologies may seem smart, but they do not think or make decisions like humans.

AI systems follow programme rules or improve performance based on data, but they do not think or have emotions like humans." Sam says, "But if deepfakes aren't real, why does it matter what people do with them?" Sofia says, "There are both risks and benefits to deepfake technology, Sam." And we've seen some of those already in today's lesson.

Even though deepfakes aren't real, they can have real effect on people's lives.

Deepfakes are highly convincing, and the technology continues to be applied in new ways.

This brings many opportunities with potential benefits, such as improving creativity and accessibility.

But it raises additional risks, such as misinformation, fraud, and reputational harm.

Deepfake technology is used to create false media that looks or sounds real in order to manipulate people.

This false media can spread misinformation, such as fake news stories or fake statements by public figures.

You may have heard the term "fake news." The risk is that people may believe the content is genuine, which can influence opinions and decisions they make, such as voting in elections, for example.

Another risk with deepfake technology is that criminals can use them to commit fraud and steal people's money or information.

Criminals use deepfake audio to imitate the voice of a company executive or family member, tricking others into transferring money or sharing private information.

Deepfakes can harm reputations by showing people doing or saying things that never actually happened.

Even if the content is false, it can still affect how others view the person and can lead to lasting negative consequences.

Using deepfake technology in entertainment and film production can have several benefits.

It reduces the cost of production.

It enhances visual effects and creativity.

And can be used to change the appearance of actors, for example, their age, more easily.

Sam says, "What is a benefit of using deepfake technology to support accessibility?" Can you think of any examples? Maybe pause the video whilst you have a quick think.

Deepfake technology can be used to generate synthetic voices for people who cannot speak.

This supports them by improving their ability to communicate and express themselves clearly.

Deepfake technology can be used to support research and simulation.

A benefit is that deepfake technology can quickly generate media that can visualise scenarios or test ideas that are difficult to capture in reality.

Okay, time to check your understanding.

I have a question for you: Which of the following is a benefit of using deepfake technology? Is it A, using synthetic voices to improve accessibility? B, generating fake news to mislead people? Or C, committing fraud by authorising payments with deepfake voices? Pause the video whilst you think about your answer.

Did you select A? Well done.

Remember, we're looking at a benefit here, so using synthetic voices can help improve accessibility.

Which of the following is a risk of using deepfake technology? Is it A, testing ideas that are difficult to do in real life? B, adding extra and improved visual effects in films? Or C, spreading misinformation? Pause the video whilst you think about your answer.

That's right.

C, spreading misinformation, is a risk of using deepfake technology.

Okay, I have a true or false statement for you now.

"There are both risks and benefits to deepfake technology." Is this true or false? Pause the video whilst you have a think.

That's right.

It's true.

And we've seen some benefits and risks during today's lesson.

Okay, we're moving on to the second task of today's lesson: Task B.

In your own words, write a paragraph to explain the risks and benefits of deepfake technology.

Pause the video whilst you complete the task.

How did you get on? Did you manage to explain some risks and benefits of deepfake technology? Well done.

Let's have a look at a sample answer together.

Deepfake technology has both benefits and risks.

On the positive side, it can be used in films to easily change an actor's age or add special visual effects.

It can also support accessibility and improve communication, for example, by generating natural-sounding voices for people who cannot speak.

There are also risks.

Deepfakes can be used to spread misinformation by making false events appear real, or they can be used in fraud through voice or video impersonation.

Did you have some similar risks and benefits? Remember, you could have included other examples in your answer, and that would be absolutely fine.

Okay, we've come to the end of today's lesson, "Deepfakes and Trust," and you've done a fantastic job, so well done.

Let's summarise what we've learned together in this lesson.

Deepfakes are synthetic media created using artificial intelligence to manipulate or generate visual and audio content.

Deepfakes can be used for both positive and negative purposes and have risks and benefits.

Even though deepfakes aren't real, they can have real effects on people's lives.

I hope you've enjoyed today's lesson, and I hope you'll join me again soon.

Bye.