Deepfake

A deepfake↗ is synthetic audio, video, or an image generated by AI to convincingly depict a real person saying or doing something they never actually said or did. The technology has advanced to the point where deepfakes can be difficult to distinguish from genuine footage, especially in short clips or low-quality video.

Deepfakes are increasingly used in scams, for example, cloning a executive's voice to authorize a fraudulent wire transfer, or faking a video call to trick an employee, as well as for disinformation and harassment. Being skeptical of unusual or urgent requests even when they appear to come from a trusted voice or face, and verifying through a separate communication channel, is becoming an essential defense as the technology gets more convincing.