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Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

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Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#52

I find it amusing that Congress has suddenly become so interested in the dangers of deep fakes. When they started going on and on about the dangers I thought “why is this dude so worried?”. Then of course the Epstein stuff becomes news[1] months later and the cynical part of me can’t help but think they’re looking for a defense if they ever partied at his island or ranch. 1. https://nypost.com/2019/11/18/jeffrey-epst…

Of all the places where you could find "epstein news" you choose to link the New York Post.

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#53
post #18
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't agree. If I didn't know that was a deepfake, there is no way I would guess that it is. It's more than good enough to convince me.

I'm with you. If this article was titled, "unbroadcasted footage of Nixon speech found in archive" I would've bought that headline 100%. This is too good. This is going to cause problems. Many, many problems. We already have issues with what is real and what isn't, when you can still trust video for the most part. I am not excited to see what this does to society. It's one of those - just because we can, does that me…

Absolutely agreed. I’d really love to be able to talk to someone who works on stuff like this, like from all those companies mentioned in the article, and ask them why they continue to advance the state of this art? Do they think it is inevitable? Are they just integrating many separate features used to create entertainment like CGI/dubbed movies?

We’re opening Pandora’s box like a kid on Christmas morning.

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#54

I find it amusing that Congress has suddenly become so interested in the dangers of deep fakes. When they started going on and on about the dangers I thought “why is this dude so worried?”. Then of course the Epstein stuff becomes news[1] months later and the cynical part of me can’t help but think they’re looking for a defense if they ever partied at his island or ranch. 1. https://nypost.com/2019/11/18/jeffrey-epst…

Same. The cynical part of me was looking to see if this project came out of MIT Media Lab (it didn't, just MIT)

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#55
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people would demand fake videos supporting their point of view be taken seriously. Also, it isn't difficult to imagine a future where people are criticized for correctly identifying deep fakes.

Also, it isn't difficult to imagine a future where people are criticized for correctly identifying deep fakes. I didn't understand your scenario. Can you expand on that?

It's already a common troll[1] to just post "FAKE" in anything where the evidence is difficult/impossible to verify. There's a whole subreddit, /r/NothingEverHappens, devoted to making fun of this troll, and adding politics/culture war to the mix will just make the backlash to people who call "FAKE" that much worse.

[1] "Troll" as in "derailing tactic used by people who don't know or care if it's really fake or not" simply to be extra-clear. In politics, throwing out chaff and using derailing tactics to make it effectively impossible to have certain discussions in open fora can be a good way to prevent inconvenient ideas from being spread, in addition to the usual tactics around sowing uncertainty and confusion among the enemy.

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#56

Part of me feels that the widespread proliferation of deep fakes can potentially be positive. Seeing will no longer be believing and society will be forced to look at things with a more critical and skeptical eye or with a higher level of diligence. Value should also shift back to more legitimate sources. The transition will certainly suck though.

Make-A-Wish Foundation can really benefit from this technology by sending these "heartfelt" deepfake videos of famous celebrities and idols to dying kids, hoping to cheer them up. Is it an ethical thing to do? You be the judge!

In a thread full of awful futures, I find this one to be the most depressing.

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#58
Deep fakes are yet another prime example of how the writing is on the wall (i.e. it's clear that this technology can/will be used for nefarious purposes - esp. by our enemies) and yet mitigations - through regulation and enhanced standards - won't be pursued until long after the horses have left the barn.

I don't know how/what form this should take, but an older analogy might be how colour photocopier manufacturers imbed microdots into each reproduction so counterfeit bills can be traced to the equipment that produced them.

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#59
post #37
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, in this case, they would be correct. Finding a reliable way to exchange trusted information is a central problem of our time.

There's already an outbreak of "fakes" by the simple technique of misleading editing: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/corbyn-ira-vi... https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-release-anothe...

And it doesn't even have to be sophisticated editing. Slowing down a video of a person speaking is enough to fool a lot of viewers into thinking that person is drunk:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/05/23/faked-p...

Re: Deepfakes: MIT brings Nixon's Apollo disaster speech to life

#60
post #50

How long before all the moon landing hoax people start pointing at this and saying, "see, I told you so."?

There is literally a mirror in the moon you can get a reflection from it you know where to look. Mom landing hoaxers don't need evidence to believe what they believe.
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