The Battle Against Lies – Think Like AI, But Stay Human

We live in a time when artificial intelligence can fake a video of your boss dancing the lambada in a Star Wars pyjama set. Or worse – it can create a video of you confessing to secretly picking raisins out of cakes. Welcome to the era of deepfakes, where even your own eyes can’t be trusted.

But don’t worry – I’m not here to spread panic (at least not more than necessary). Instead, I’m here to talk about how to fight deepfakes, spot them, and educate people so they don’t fall for digital deception. So let’s get started!

Doubt is Your Best Friend

In the online world, a sceptical mind is like an umbrella in London – always useful. If something looks too good (or bad) to be true, there’s a high chance it isn’t. So if you see a video of a politician reciting Jelena Rozga’s lyrics or a celebrity promoting crypto investments, pause and ask yourself: “Is this for real?”

Become a Digital Detective

You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to spot a fake, but a few tricks can help:

Watch the mouth and blinking – Deepfakes often poorly mimic natural movements. If the person looks like a robot with strange blinking, chances are the AI had a rough day.

Sound doesn’t match the video – Sometimes the voice and mouth movements are out of sync. If it feels like you’re watching a badly dubbed ‘90s movie, be cautious.

Pay attention to details – Unnatural shadows, poor lighting, and blurry edges can be signs that something’s off.

Check the context – If a video looks sensational, look for other sources to confirm its authenticity.

Technology vs. Technology

If you’re unsure whether a video is real, use trusted detection tools. Thankfully, there are platforms like Microsoft’s Video Authenticator or Deepware that help verify content. And if you’re not a tech guru, simply compare the info with reliable sources. Sometimes a quick Google search is enough to uncover a hoax. Social networks are also increasingly implementing systems to detect manipulated content – pay attention to those warnings.

Education is the Best Defense

People love to believe what they see – but it’s time to change that a bit. Organize workshops, share funny deepfake fails, and show how easy it is to manipulate content. You can even create a fun challenge: “Guess if it’s real!” and test your coworkers or social media followers. The more you know, the less likely you are to fall for digital fraud.

Also, if you’re a parent or educator, talk to younger generations about this topic. Kids and teens are especially vulnerable to misinformation since they’re growing up in a digital world where it’s hard to distinguish real from fake. Through interactive workshops and real-world examples, you can help them develop critical thinking skills.

Don’t Spread Panic – Spread Knowledge!

You don’t have to stop trusting videos and images entirely, but you do need to be smarter. Share information only after verifying it, warn your friends if you spot an obvious deepfake, and most importantly – don’t let AI fool your critical thinking.

Before sharing a shocking video, ask yourself a few questions: Who posted it? Are there other sources confirming it? Does the speaking style match the person in the video? A few seconds of thinking can stop fake news from spreading.

AI Can Fool You – But You Can Be Smarter

Deepfakes are here to stay, but so are you – with a healthy dose of scepticism and a sense of humour. Remember, not every video of Elon Musk selling magic hair growth drops is real. And if someone tries to convince you that you were at a party last night you don’t remember – double-check before confessing anything!

The future of digital safety depends on all of us. Through education, critical thinking, and technological tools, we can fight misinformation and make sure we don’t become victims of manipulation. AI can be a powerful ally – but only if we know how to use it the right way.