The Dark-Side of AI - Deepfakes

Machine learning algorithms have come a long way since the inception of basic AI such as those in video-games from the 1990’s. Over the course of several years, artificial intelligent powered voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have improved significantly, redefining and changing the way we interact with AI from on screen to voice control. It’s hard to comprehend just how far we have come in terms of our research and knowledge on artificial intelligence. We’re surrounded by artificial intelligence in our day-to-day lives so it comes as no surprise that we don’t seem to recognise the many hurdles we have overcome in constructing complex machine learning algorithms in recent years. The image below shows the remarkable advances we have made in the field of machine learning. Although many of us have seen the vast applications of AI improving our way of life, we should take notice of how AI can also be used to introduce even more ways for hackers to manipulate data, breach data and more specifically, produce what is known as a deep fake image.

The first image was presented by Ian Goodfellow, the director of machine learning at Apple’s Special Projects Group. Each of the faces below was generated by an AI. Starting with the faces on the left, from 2014, you can see just how much artificial intelligence has advanced over the years and how much more reliant and capable it has become.

Images showing the advancement in AI generated faces over the course of 4 years

Images showing the advancement in AI generated faces over the course of 4 years

The popularity and realisation amongst tech giants regarding the potentiality and benefits that integrating artificial intelligence into their systems introduces, has lead to a surge in money invested into research. Not only that, but we’ve seen the rise of many artificial intelligent start-up businesses who offer applications of artificial intelligence in virtually all fields.

In 2014, machine learning algorithms were only capable of generating faces that looked grainy, something you might see on a low-quality surveillance camera. Four years down the line, and people have managed to render high-quality, realistic looking images and videos of people.

Artificial Intelligence has come a long way but with advancements in fields like fake images and videos, AI can easily be used to manipulate stories and spread fake news. This is especially harmful given we live in an era where we are already combating against the spread of false and misleading information on social media platforms.

Zacharia Sharif