There was a deepfake audio robocall from President Joe Biden calling for the vote to be withheld. And just last week, a fake video surfaced showing Donald Trump and black voters.
AI deepfakes are Large scale It's easy to get fooled this election season, especially when your news and social feeds are full of junk information like this.
By the way, you are not the only one who was deceived. According to research from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, nearly two-thirds of people cannot tell the difference between images and sounds generated by artificial intelligence and the real thing. Those are terrible odds. Here are some rules of thumb to protect your vote.
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“Viral” does not mean “verified”
Almost all AI-generated information online is marketed for social media clicks and not published by major news organizations. Of course, sometimes these publications still stumble, but it's rare.
I'm all for citizen journalism, but when it comes to elections, stick to trusted publications. Be wary of anonymous accounts that post without being affiliated with a legitimate person or organization.
If it's a random person on Facebook you've never heard of, do your homework before hitting share.
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Fraudsters can put together convincing images and videos, but they can't fake context.When Biden or Trump say something, I promise It will be reported 100 times and recorded from 20 different angles – especially if it's something outlandish.
◾ If only one source of something is found, the internal AI detector should fire. Please double check using Google Fact Check Explorer, VerifyThis, or Snopes.
Pro tip: Search for relevant keywords on social media platforms like Google, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. If you don't know how to search, you can also take a screenshot of important parts of the video and perform a reverse image search.
slow down
We're all busy and in a hurry, but it's worth slowing down, especially when something big feels right. Deepfakes are often created with emotions in mind. What matters is that it makes you angry, sad, or scared enough to share.
If you are a politician, be careful of your manners. They are as unique as a fingerprint. Whenever President Barack Obama said “Hello, everyone'' in his weekly address, he characteristically lifted his head and frowned slightly. If the star of the video looks like an impersonator, he or she might actually be.
When in doubt, use this AI image checklist
Spotting election fakes is especially difficult because there are so many publicly available videos of politicians speaking in front of similar backgrounds to copy. However, you can check if it's AI using the following guidelines:
◾ background: Fuzzy, blurry backgrounds, smooth surfaces, or lines that don't match are red flags that the image is generated by AI.
◾ context: Use your head – if the landscape doesn’t match the current climate, season, or what’s physically possible, it’s because it’s fake.
◾ ratio: Check to see if objects look jumbled or too large or small. The same applies to features, especially ears, fingers, and feet.
◾ angle: Deepfakes are most convincing when the subject is facing directly into the camera. Malfunctions may appear if a person begins to move sideways.
◾ sentence: AI cannot spell. Look for false language on signs and labels.
◾ chin: Yes, I heard you. The lower half of the face is the most popular part of the AI-generated video suggestions. It may be subtle, but check to see if your jaw or neck moves or exaggerates unnaturally.
◾ Fingers and Hands: Check for odd positions, too many fingers, abnormally long fingers, or hands that are out of position.
If you find it, please don't spread it
Some of these images and videos may be shocking or funny, but they are putting our elections at risk. Don’t be complicit in “The Great American Hoax.” If you have something to share, know If it is AI-generated, please clearly notify us in the text or post. Actually, it's better not to share at all.
Learn all about the latest technology on The Kim Commando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and offers advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacking. Visit her website for her daily tips, free newsletters, and more.