In 2024, AI-generated video of political figures became indistinguishable from reality for most viewers. This episode traces deepfake technology from its academic origins through its weaponization in elections worldwide, and asks the uncomfortable question: what happens to democracy when seeing is no longer believing?
How deepfake technology actually works (GANs, diffusion models, face-swapping)Documented cases of deepfakes influencing elections across four continentsThe detection arms race: why verification is losingEmerging legal frameworks and their limitationsHow to Use ChatGPT for Business -- Understanding the AI models behind generative contentOpen Source AI Models Compared -- The open-source tools making synthetic media accessibleAI News This Week Explained -- Stay current on AI developments including synthetic mediaAI Tools Actually Worth Learning -- Understanding the tools shaping the AI landscapeAI Safety Research Update -- Research into detecting and preventing AI-generated misinformationThe Synthetic World is a podcast by Aevorn.