The Accenture Federal Technology Vision 2022: Government Enters the Metaverse looks at four technology trends poised to disrupt government over the next three years. Trend 3: The Unreal – Making Synthetic, Authentic examines the paradox that synthetic data presents for AI.

Artificial intelligence requires data, with computer-generated data filling significant voids like privacy concerns to fuel continued innovation. However, this synthetic data can also be used to create deepfakes, bots and other forms of disinformation that erode trust in AI. As AI-generated data and synthetic content convincingly mimic what is “real,” authenticity is emerging as the new north star.

Kyle Michl explores this with Marc Bosch-Ruiz, PhD. and Shauna Revay, PhD., co-authors of the Trend 3 report. They share examples of how federal agencies fuel innovation with synthetic data and a new framework for authenticity in defining data.