Deepfakes are a new form of AI that can simulate a person’s likeness and words using visual and audio media. The videos of Tom Cruise doing magic tricks that are surfacing on TikTok are prevalent examples of deepfakes; the actor has never posted such content on any of his official social media accounts and seems to be unaware of their existence. The possibilities in which deepfakes can be used are endless, as long as video and/or audio data of a subject can be obtained. This reveals ethical concerns surrounding the lack of regulation of deepfake technology. Engineers have a duty to address these concerns and improve the practices involved in deepfake research.
View More Real or Fake? The Ethics of Deepfake Media