News/Deepfakes
Deepfake celebrity endorsements among growing threats to healthcare information online
Deepfakes present a growing health risk as AI-generated media increasingly infiltrates healthcare information online. The emergence of highly realistic but fake videos endorsing unproven treatments, promoting dangerous alternatives to medical care, and spreading public health misinformation creates significant challenges for consumers seeking reliable health guidance. This trend is especially concerning as more people turn to telehealth and internet resources for medical advice, requiring new critical thinking skills to navigate an information landscape where seeing is no longer believing. The growing threat: Deepfake technology is evolving from entertaining viral videos to dangerous health misinformation that could harm patients and public health....
read Mar 28, 2025OpenAI’s Studio Ghibli image generator sparks controversy with offensive historical recreations
OpenAI's latest image generator has sparked a controversial trend of creating offensive historical recreations, raising questions about responsible AI use and content moderation. The technology, integrated into GPT-4o, initially gained popularity when users discovered they could replicate Studio Ghibli's distinctive animation style, but has since evolved into more questionable territory with millions viewing potentially insensitive historical recreations. Why this matters: The viral spread of AI-generated images depicting sensitive historical moments like 9/11 and the JFK assassination highlights the growing tension between creative freedom and ethical boundaries in generative AI technologies. These controversial images have garnered millions of views on social...
read Mar 26, 2025From finite evidence to infinite phoniness: How AI transforms photography’s relationship with truth
Photography has rapidly evolved from its role as a documentary medium into a computational process reshaped by artificial intelligence and digital manipulation. In his 1970s short story "The Adventure of a Photographer," Italo Calvino remarkably predicted our current photo-obsessed culture, describing people whose experiences remain abstract until photographs concretize them. This prescient vision highlights how fundamentally our relationship with visual truth has shifted in the AI era, raising profound questions about authenticity, representation, and the blurring boundaries between real and synthetic imagery. The big picture: Traditional photography's documentary function has been transformed by computational technologies that make images increasingly malleable...
read Mar 21, 2025Fake friends with benefits? AI companions are reshaping human relationships
The rise of AI companions is creating unprecedented forms of intimate digital relationships, presenting both opportunities for connection and risks of psychological dependence. As millions forge bonds with chatbots through platforms like Replika, Character.AI, and Kindroid, researchers are examining how these relationships affect human psychology, social skills, and emotional wellness. Understanding the nuanced impact of these digital bonds has become increasingly important as AI companionship emerges as one of 2025's defining technological trends. The big picture: AI companions have evolved from grief-management tools to widespread digital relationships, with Replika alone surpassing 10 million downloads as users seek emotional connections with...
read Mar 20, 2025Me, you, and celebrities too: Loti AI opens deepfake detection to the public, not just VIPs
Deepfake detection is experiencing a critical democratization as threats to personal digital identity move beyond public figures to everyday citizens. Loti AI's expansion of its detection technology to all users signals a significant shift in how society approaches synthetic media protection and digital reputation management. This move highlights the growing recognition that personal image protection should be a universally accessible right rather than a privilege limited to celebrities. The big picture: Loti AI has opened access to its deepfake detection and takedown service to the general public, expanding beyond its previous exclusive availability to celebrities and public figures. The company,...
read Mar 19, 2025Instagram’s disturbing new trend: AI-generated disability fetish accounts for profit
Instagram is enabling a disturbing new trend of AI-generated content that exploits and fetishizes people with disabilities for profit. The platform has become ground zero for a growing network of accounts using artificial intelligence to create fake influencers with Down syndrome who sell nude content on adult platforms. This practice represents a dangerous evolution of "AI pimping" — where content thieves use AI to modify stolen material, creating specialized fetish content that simultaneously exploits real creators and harmfully objectifies marginalized groups. The big picture: A network of Instagram accounts is using AI to steal content from human creators and deepfake...
read Mar 18, 2025AI is boosting organized crime across Europe, blurring lines between profit and ideological motives
Artificial intelligence is becoming a powerful accelerator for organized crime across Europe, creating unprecedented challenges for law enforcement agencies. Europol's latest four-year assessment reveals a concerning evolution where AI-enhanced criminal operations are not only becoming more sophisticated but are increasingly intertwined with state-sponsored destabilization efforts. This convergence represents a fundamental threat to EU societies as criminal networks leverage advanced technologies to amplify their reach, efficiency, and destructive capabilities. The big picture: Europol's Executive Director Catherine De Bolle warns that cybercrime has evolved into a "digital arms race" targeting multiple sectors of society with increasingly devastating precision. Criminal activities now frequently...
read Mar 12, 2025Steve Harvey partners with Vermillio to protect fans from AI deepfake scams
Finally, AI safety with teeth. Renowned entertainer Steve Harvey is taking proactive steps to combat the rising threat of AI-generated deepfakes by partnering with Vermillio, a specialized protection platform. This move highlights the growing concern among public figures about unauthorized digital impersonation, which not only threatens personal brands but can also potentially harm fans through scams and misinformation. Harvey's initiative represents an emerging trend of celebrities seeking technological solutions to maintain control over their digital presence. Why this matters: The partnership signals a growing recognition among public figures that AI protection has become a necessity in an era where unauthorized...
read Mar 6, 2025Rush in, attack: Cybercriminals now operate like businesses, using AI to aggress faster than ever
Cybersecurity has entered a new era where sophisticated adversaries operate with business-like efficiency and structure, utilizing AI tools and social engineering to breach defenses with unprecedented speed. According to the 2025 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report, threat actors have evolved beyond traditional malware attacks to employ identity-based techniques, deepfake-driven social engineering, and rapid cloud exploitation capabilities—creating a high-stakes innovation race between defenders and increasingly professionalized attackers. The big picture: Modern cyber adversaries now mirror legitimate business operations with sophisticated organizational structures, specialized roles, and resource management practices. Nation-state actors, ransomware groups, and financially motivated cybercriminals have developed methodical approaches to identifying...
read Mar 6, 2025YouTube warns creators of deepfake scam featuring CEO Neal Mohan
They're faking it until they're making it. Unfortunately, they're making it our problem. YouTube has raised alarms about a sophisticated AI-enabled phishing scam targeting content creators through deepfake videos of CEO Neal Mohan. The scam's emergence highlights the growing sophistication of AI-powered fraud, where deepfake technology is being weaponized to exploit the trust between platforms and their users, potentially threatening the creator economy that has become central to YouTube's ecosystem. The big picture: Scammers are using AI-generated videos of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan to deceive creators in a targeted phishing campaign designed to steal channel credentials. How it works: The...
read Mar 4, 2025Trump to address Congress with AI deepfake victim among first lady’s guests
The nation's top bully pulpit is putting AI bullies in their place. The intersection of artificial intelligence and political communication takes center stage as President Trump prepares to address Congress, with AI-generated deepfakes emerging as a critical concern. The guest list for the State of the Union address reflects both the administration's accomplishments and its future policy priorities, particularly highlighting the growing impact of AI technology on public safety and personal privacy. The big picture: President Trump's joint session address to Congress will showcase his administration's first six weeks while outlining upcoming initiatives, including new measures to combat AI-enabled digital...
read Mar 4, 2025Questionable companions: AI relationships invite ethical scrutiny from, well, everyone
The rapid rise of AI companionship platforms has created an unregulated digital frontier where millions of users forge emotional bonds with artificial personalities. While these AI relationships can offer genuine connection and support, recent incidents involving underage celebrity bots and concerns about user addiction highlight the urgent need for oversight in this emerging industry, where the boundaries between beneficial interaction and potential harm remain dangerously blurred. The big picture: AI companion sites are evolving beyond simple chatbots to offer deep emotional relationships through characters with distinct personalities, backstories, and the ability to engage in intimate conversations. Popular platforms like Replika,...
read Feb 25, 2025AI-powered tax scams are on the rise — here’s how to protect yourself
The tax filing season in 2025 has become increasingly dangerous as artificial intelligence enables scammers to create highly convincing impersonations of IRS agents and tax professionals. A recent LifeLock study reveals that 56% of individuals have encountered AI-powered tax scams featuring realistic voice simulations, while the IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered over $9.1 billion in tax fraud and financial crimes in 2024, nearly double the amount from 2022. The evolving threat landscape: AI technology has transformed tax-related fraud by enabling scammers to create nearly indistinguishable fake communications and impersonations. Fraudsters now employ AI-generated voice scams that can accurately mimic IRS...
read Feb 24, 2025ROOP swoops into the face swap space with variety of impressive new features
The ROOP Unleashed software package represents a significant advancement in AI-powered face swapping technology, building upon its predecessor with enhanced capabilities for both photo and video manipulation. This latest version introduces VR support and improved multi-tasking features, making it accessible through a browser-based interface. Core Capabilities: ROOP Unleashed combines sophisticated facial recognition with real-time processing to enable seamless face swapping across multiple media types. The software supports simultaneous face swapping of multiple subjects within a single video Users can select specific faces, first-detected faces, or apply gender-based swapping criteria Real-time preview functionality allows users to review changes before finalizing outputs...
read Feb 20, 2025Avalanche of AI content leaves Reddit mods feeling chilly
The rise of AI-generated content has created new challenges for Reddit's volunteer moderators who maintain the quality and authenticity of discussions across thousands of communities. Reddit's unique value stems from its human-generated content and genuine conversations, which are now being tested by an influx of AI-created posts and responses. Current state of moderation: Reddit moderators across various communities are implementing bans and restrictions on AI-generated content to preserve the platform's authenticity and quality. Many subreddits have established strict policies against AI-generated content, viewing such posts as low-effort contributions that diminish the value of human expertise and authentic discussion Moderators face...
read Feb 13, 2025Scarlett Johansson urges AI regulation after fake celebrity video spreads
The rise of AI-generated deepfake videos has created new challenges in combating hate speech and misinformation online. A recent incident involving Scarlett Johansson and other celebrities highlights the growing intersection of artificial intelligence, social media activism, and the fight against antisemitism. The incident in focus: An AI-generated video featuring Scarlett Johansson and other prominent Jewish celebrities responding to Kanye West's antisemitic remarks has sparked debate about AI regulation and content authenticity. The deepfake video showed Johansson and others wearing protest attire, set to the Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila" The video was created by Ori Bejerano, a self-described generative AI...
read Feb 12, 2025Scarlett Johansson condemns AI-generated viral video featuring fellow Hollywood celebs
The emergence of AI-generated deepfake videos has become a significant concern for celebrities and public figures, particularly when these videos are used to make political statements without consent. Recently, an unauthorized AI-generated video featuring fabricated versions of multiple Hollywood celebrities protesting against Kanye West's antisemitic statements has sparked controversy and raised important questions about AI regulation. Initial incident and response: A viral AI-generated video depicted several celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Jack Black, and Steven Spielberg, wearing protest shirts and making statements against antisemitism. The video showed AI versions of celebrities wearing t-shirts featuring the Star of David inside a hand...
read Feb 11, 2025India tops global AI adoption at 65%, Microsoft survey finds, with even higher use among millennials
The release of Microsoft's Global Online Safety Survey 2025 reveals unprecedented AI adoption rates in India, where usage has more than doubled over the past year. The comprehensive study, surveying 14,800 participants across 15 countries, positions India at the forefront of global AI integration while highlighting significant safety concerns. Key findings on adoption: India's AI usage rate of 65% in the past three months significantly outpaces the global average of 31%, marking a dramatic increase from 26% in 2023. India joins Singapore, South Africa, Brazil, and the US as global leaders in Generative AI adoption Millennials (ages 25-44) represent the...
read Feb 10, 2025AI mind clones raise both eyebrows and ethical questions about digital replicas
The concept of AI mind clones - digital replicas of human intelligence and personality - is moving from science fiction to reality, with companies like NewBots Studio and Delphi pioneering technology that can replicate human thought patterns and expertise. This emerging technology allows individuals and businesses to create digital versions of themselves or access simulated versions of historical figures' intelligence. The current landscape: AI mind cloning technology is gaining traction through implementations by prominent figures and technological advancements. Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of Osaka University's Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, has created AI-powered robotic replicas of himself that can deliver lectures and answer...
read Feb 9, 2025This new AI tool will tell you if images, texts and videos are AI-generated
The rise of artificial intelligence tools for creating digital content has sparked the development of detection solutions to help users verify the authenticity of online media. The Hive AI Detector is as a free Chrome extension designed to identify AI-generated images, videos, and text while browsing the web. Key Features and Functionality: The Hive AI Detector operates as a background process in Chrome, providing instant analysis of digital content without requiring user registration or personal information. The tool can scan images in jpg, png, and webp formats, as well as videos and text content Users receive percentage-based likelihood scores indicating...
read Feb 2, 2025Merely possessing these AI tools may land you up to 5 years in prison now
The U.K. is set to become the first nation to criminalize AI tools designed for creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with offenders facing up to five years in prison. Key legislation details: The U.K. Home Office is introducing four new laws specifically targeting AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools designed to create CSAM will become illegal, carrying a maximum five-year prison sentence Operating websites that share AI-generated CSAM will be punishable by up to 10 years in prison Possession of AI manuals explaining how to use AI for sexual abuse will carry up...
read Jan 23, 2025Pope warns of AI truth crisis after viral deepfake image
Pope Francis highlights AI's growing impact on truth and society after becoming a deepfake target himself. The central issue: Pope Francis addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos regarding artificial intelligence's role in exacerbating what he termed a "crisis of truth" in public discourse. In a written message delivered by Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Pope emphasized that AI-generated content has become nearly indistinguishable from human-created work He called for increased oversight from governments and businesses in managing AI development The pontiff stressed the importance of maintaining human decision-making in crucial matters, rather than delegating to algorithms Personal experience with AI...
read Jan 19, 2025How to protect yourself against AI scams
AI-powered scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers using deepfake technology to impersonate voices and create deceptive video content. Current threat landscape; Recent incidents highlight how AI technologies are being weaponized for financial fraud and impersonation scams. A notable case involved a scammer using AI to replicate WIRED editorial director Katie Drummond's voice in an attempt to deceive her father Fraudsters are now employing AI tools to create convincing deepfake videos for real-time scam operations Some AI financial advisory startups have been found to push high-fee cash advances and high-interest personal loans rather than providing genuine financial guidance Key warning...
read Jan 18, 2025Pulitzer-winning cartoonist arrested for AI-generated child abuse images
Sacramento police arrested Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Darrin Bell under California's new law prohibiting AI-generated child sex abuse material (CSAM), marking the first such arrest since the law took effect January 1, 2025. Key Details: California's groundbreaking legislation criminalizes possession and distribution of AI-generated CSAM, even in cases without real victims. Police executed a search warrant at Bell's home following an investigation into shared CSAM files Authorities claim to have found evidence of computer-generated/AI CSAM Bell is being held on $1 million bail Legal Framework: The new California law specifically addresses the unique harms of AI-generated CSAM within the broader context of...
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