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  • DeepFakes are...... + Great Opps, PCDN AI For Impact Newsletter, Feb. 10, 2025

DeepFakes are...... + Great Opps, PCDN AI For Impact Newsletter, Feb. 10, 2025

What Happens When We Can No Longer Distinguish Between Real and Fake?

The rise of deepfake technology is eroding trust in digital media, undermining public discourse, and disproportionately impacting marginalized communities. AI-generated fake videos and audio clips can be weaponized to spread disinformation, manipulate elections, and facilitate harassment. Addressing these harms while preserving freedom of expression requires a concerted effort from technology experts, policymakers, and civil society.

Deepfakes and the AI Action Summit in Paris

On February 10–11, 2025, France hosted the AI Action Summit in Paris, where world leaders, industry experts, and civil society organizations gathered to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. A key focus was the spread of synthetic media and its impact on democracy, trust, and online safety. Notably, French President Emmanuel Macron used deepfake videos of himself to showcase both the potential and the risks of AI-generated content. Read more.

Smash Election 2020 GIF by INTO ACTION

Cost of Producing High-Quality Deepfakes

Deepfake technology is becoming both more affordable and accessible. While high-quality deepfake videos could cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per minute a few years ago, advancements in AI have dramatically reduced production costs. Today, a convincing deepfake can be produced for as little as $300, thanks to free or low-cost AI tools available to the public. Read more.

Organizations Addressing Deepfake Challenges

  • WITNESS develops tools and strategies to help journalists, activists, and human rights defenders identify and counteract synthetic media. Read more.

  • Harvard Kennedy School’s Misinformation Review offers in-depth research on how synthetic media can be identified and countered, providing critical insights for policymakers and technologists alike. Read more.

  • Luminate Group funds initiatives that combat digital threats—including deepfake-driven misinformation targeting vulnerable populations—and informs policymakers on ethical AI governance. Read more.

Final Thoughts

As deepfake technology advances, the line between reality and manipulation grows increasingly blurred. Addressing this challenge requires a multi-stakeholder approach—governments must regulate harmful uses, tech companies need to invest in detection tools, and civil society should continue advocating for digital rights and media literacy. The pressing question remains: How can we uphold truth and trust in an era where seeing is no longer believing?

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News & Resources

😄 Joke of the Day

Why did the neural network break up with the dataset? Because it felt overfitted to the relationship!

🌍 News Highlights

  • 📄 AI and Humans– A recent study explores if AI is helping humans think better or not?. Read more

  • 🎥 AI & Gender – AI and inequality: Women most likely to be affected in Africa, expert says Watch here

  • 🤖 Can A.I. Voice 'The Simpsons'? Fun Exploration from the New York TimesWatch here

  • 🧠 Chatbot Hallucinations: Inevitable? – An in-depth analysis of why AI models sometimes generate false information and the steps being taken to mitigate this issue. Read more

💼 Organization to Watch

WITNESS – A leading international nonprofit, WITNESS empowers human rights defenders to use video and technology to expose abuses and advocate for change. By partnering with local organizations worldwide, they help document violations and promote justice at the intersection of rights and media. Learn more

🔗 LinkedIn Connection

Eva Blum-Dumontet – A prominent expert in AI ethics, digital rights, and privacy. Connect with her for insights on AI policy and its societal impacts. Connect here

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