Blog

Since AI technology was made available to the public just a few months ago, it didn’t take long for convincingly fake images and videos to start emerging. While fake images have always existed, AI has taken them to a new level. Let’s take a quick look at why this is problematic.

One of the first issues that comes to mind is the potential for personalized scams. There have already been reports of fake messages from supposed friends or relatives asking for money, but with AI chatbots, these messages can now be automatically generated and tailored to the recipient. A few pieces of information from social networks are enough for AI to craft messages that seem disturbingly real. If, in the future, AI can also mimic voices, it will become even harder to spot these scams.

In my last post about AI, I showed what AI-generated images of myself look like. The next step will be creating convincingly fake videos using this technology, showing people doing things they’ve never actually done. Such videos could then be used for blackmail, pressuring people into paying money or doing favors. Bullying could also become a major issue with these kinds of fake content.

Another risk is that AI-generated content could be used to spread conspiracy theories or discredit political opponents. It’s already possible to use AI to create fake news or manipulated videos that could spark protests or sow distrust. For now, many of these fakes can still be identified relatively easily, but as AI continues to develop, it will become harder and harder to tell what’s real and what’s not.

Fortunately, AI can also help detect these fakes. There are already AI-based systems that can recognize and flag fake videos. But the real danger often lies where you least expect it. When you receive a video from a friend, you don’t immediately assume it might be fake. If we don’t take the time to verify such content, we could easily fall for false information. This is why, in the future, it will be even more important to question every image and video carefully.

Closing Words

Despite all the concerns, I still see AI technology as an important step toward the future. If we use it responsibly, it can support us in many areas and act like a co-pilot in our daily lives. But we also need to remain cautious.