Deepfake anyone? AI synthetic media tech enters perilous phase

The technology, barely four years old, may be at a pivotal point, according to Reuters interviews with companies, researchers, policymakers and campaigners.

"Do you want to see yourself acting in a movie or on TV?" said the description for one app on online stores, offering users the chance to create AI-generated synthetic media, also known as deepfakes.

"Do you want to see your best friend, colleague, or boss dancing?" it added. "Have you ever wondered how would you look if your face swapped with your friend's or a celebrity's?" The same app was advertised differently on dozens of adult sites: "Make deepfake porn in a sec," the ads said. "Deepfake anyone."
 

How increasingly sophisticated technology is applied is one of the complexities facing