The Threat Horizon of Deepfakes

Speaker: Dr. Yisroel Mirsky

Abstract

Deep learning has provided us with the ability to automate tasks, extract information from vast amounts of data, and synthesize media that is nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. However, positive tools can also be used for negative purposes. Since 2018, deep learning has been used to re-enact people in `deepfakes’ not only for entertainment but for revenge, fraud, and espionage as well. With rapid advances in generative AI and the ease of access to the technology, we wonder what is on the horizon regarding malicious deepfakes: what will attacks look like in the near future and how will we prevent them? In this talk, we will talk about different types of deepfakes (e.g., human face/voice, medical records, …), how they are made, detected, and their caveats. We will also look into an imminent threat which has recently emerged and give insight into the matter.