Today, warnings are everywhere: AI deepfakes are becoming increasingly realistic. We’re being told that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fake, scams are becoming more dangerous, and the foundations of trust are being shaken. All of this is true and frightening.
But what the mainstream media misses is this: we’re not just facing an “advanced scam,” but an attack on our “capacity to perceive reality.” It’s not just about losing money or a fake celebrity video—it’s about losing our ability to think, understand, and trust the truth.
Let’s look at the things that often get left out:
1. Weapon of Plausible Deniability
People often say about deepfakes: “That’s not Tom Cruise!” “That politician didn’t say anything like that!” But the real danger isn’t just making fakes, but raising doubts about the real thing itself.
Imagine, a whistleblower comes forward with genuine video evidence. Previously, people would say, “This is doctored.” Now, people will say, “This is a deepfake. The video can’t be trusted.” Now, the responsibility for providing proof will fall on the truthful person. Any genuine mistake, any true statement can now be easily dismissed as a lie.
What does it do? Liars become more powerful, they escape accountability, and the truth becomes more difficult to find.
2. Asymmetric War of Perception
Creating a deepfake is still a bit technical, but the tools are quickly becoming available to everyone. But detecting a deepfake? That’s even more difficult—it requires advanced AI, special tools, and the original metadata (which is easily erased).
What does that mean?
- Making a fake is easy.
- Detecting it is very difficult.
Result? Fake videos will flood the internet, and distinguishing between real and fake will become almost impossible.
3. Deepfake Fatigue – When We Get Tired of Searching for the Truth
Initially, we’ll all be shocked. “Is this video real?” But what will happen when we have to doubt every video every day? Just like “fake news fatigue” exists, “deepfake fatigue” will be even more dangerous.
We’ll get tired of trying to know the truth. And when we can’t trust anything, our interest will also wane. “What we see with our eyes can also be false” – this very thought will force society to stop.
4. Endless Cycle of Breaking
Trust Deepfakes not only make content fake, they also cast doubt on genuine content.
- A video of a genuine protest – people will say it’s fake.
- A genuine interview with a journalist – people will say it’s a deepfake.
Which means:
- The value of genuine evidence will diminish: Video evidence will no longer be proof in court because anyone can say, “This is a deepfake.”
- Challenging narratives will become difficult: A dictatorship will flood fake videos and suppress genuine opposition by labeling them “fake.”
- Human connection will be lost: When you cannot even trust a video call from your loved one, then what should you do with digital communication?
Is the advancement of deepfake technology morally justifiable?
byu/-hello-goodbye- inaskphilosophy
Solutions That Go Beyond Technology
Yes, technical solutions like digital watermarks, blockchain verification, and deepfake detection AI are necessary—but that’s only half the battle. The real solution will require us to adapt at the societal level.
1. Digital Epistemology Education
Everyone, from school age to senior citizens, will need to be taught how to understand evidence and media in a digital world. Not just “media literacy,” but a new way of thinking is needed—for a world where even the eyes can’t be trusted.
2. Verified Human Networks
We need content creators and journalists who stake their identity and credibility on content. We may need to return to more face-to-face interviews and verified capture methods.
3. Strong AI Regulation
Companies developing AI have a moral responsibility, and governments have a regulatory duty. They must develop provenance (origin tracking) and detection tools within the system – mere “guidelines” will not suffice.
4. Universal Digital Provenance Standards
Humans must create an open-source authenticity standard for all digital content – like a “nutrition label” that indicates when the content was created, how it was edited, and where it was distributed.
Also Read: From Patient Symptoms to AI Insights: Best AI Tools for Medical Students for Diagnosis
Deepfakes are not just a technological innovation – they are a social test. How we react – not just to algorithms, but with education, critical thinking, and a new faith in truth – will determine what our future will look like.
We have left the Uncanny Valley behind. Now we face a new era, “engineered doubt.”