View the full episode transcript.
During a recent phone call, BBC tech columnist Thomas Germain couldn’t convince his aunt that he wasn’t AI. Being unable to distinguish a real person from a fabricated version is a problem born from the sheer volume of AI-generated content flooding the internet — and one that’s increased dramatically in the last year alone. Even world leaders are now plagued by the issue: a glitchy video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked an enduring conspiracy theory that he was really dead and his public appearances on social media were an AI-driven cover up.
In a world where everything looks fake, how do we know what’s real? Thomas joins the show to explain how we got here, where we might be headed, and a surprisingly analog technique that could save you from getting scammed by a deepfaked version of a loved one.
Guest:
- Thomas Germain, co-host of the podcast The Interface, and tech columnist at the BBC.
Further Reading/Listening:
- I tried to prove I’m not AI. My aunt wasn’t convinced — Thomas Germain, BBC
- The Interface Podcast — BBC
- Benjamin Netanyahu is struggling to prove he’s not an AI clone — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge
- Cascade of A.I. Fakes About War With Iran Causes Chaos Online — Stuart A. Thompson and Alexander Cardia, The New York Times
- AI is intensifying a ‘collapse’ of trust online, experts say — Angela Yang, NBC News
- Deepfakes, Elections, and Shrinking the Liar’s Dividend — Josh A. Goldstein, Brennan Center for Justice
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