Can blockchain help fight deepfakes?

An AI tech firm claims it can fight ‘deepfakes’ using blockchain technology.

Deepfakes are computer-manipulated videos of people, often politicians or celebrities, that look eerily realistic.

They are controversial because they are often used maliciously – including generating fake news reports or creating pornographic footage using Hollywood stars.

Now LA-based Alethea AI claims it can help educate the public about the dangers of deepfakes using its decentralised Synthetic Content Network.

Alethea AI aims to empower users to create synthetic content by editing existing media such as movie scenes and music videos by creating a digital copy of themselves.

All synthetic videos generated using Alethea AI’s technology will feature prominent disclaimers and will be watermarked to represent that they have been digitally altered.

With Alethea AI, celebs and other prominent people will be able to ensure that the AI-generated media that is being created of them is through their permission and that they own the IP rights to the AI models that have been trained on their face and voice.

“AI-generated media is a powerful storytelling force multiplier,” said Arif Khan, CEO and co-founder of Alethea AI.

“The emergence and wide availability of synthetic media tools are likely to transform the media landscape.

“How we respond to this emergent media landscape depends on how well informed and inoculated our communities will be.

“To prevent a dystopian world from emerging, we have created Alethea AI with the vision of empowering individuals to understand the value of their voices and faces.

“We aim to educate users about malicious synthetic media while understanding how our technology can be used to unlock economic value and productivity gains as it enables new modes of artistic expression.”

Following this campaign, Alethea AI is planning to partner with artists and organisations to raise awareness about deepfakes in a benign context.

The company will also be releasing a mobile app that will gamify the detection of deepfakes and in the process inoculate its users against the harms of such videos.