Deepfakes are becoming more sophisticated and hard to tell from actual, factual images. Part of this is due to people seeming to prefer deepfakes over reality. For example, a recent deepfake supposedly shows an explosion at the Pentagon. The fact that the building looks nothing like the Pentagon does not dissuade many from downloading it, proclaiming it real, and–well, whatever conspiracy theorists do next. (They apparently do not have a consistent next step, so everybody just makes up their own.)
In the meantime, AI developers are desperately fighting smear campaigns. In particular they are vehemently protesting a recent photograph of Supreme Court Chief Justice and Grand Imperial Poobah John Roberts. The photo shows Roberts claiming that “He and the other justices were working to hold themselves to the ‘highest standards’ of ethical conduct.”
“This photo is not a deepfake,” claims an artificial intelligence expert who asked not to be named. “We have our standards, low though they may be. We would never attempt to portray such a ridiculous, unbelievable statement. I have no idea as to who is responsible, but they should be ashamed that they would stoop so low and promote such an egregious lie.”
Attempts to contact the Supreme Court for comments did not receive a reply. However, Diana Ross is reported to have asked everyone to not confuse the 1960’s Supremes musical group in any way with the Supreme Court.
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