Deepfakes refer to synthetic media, typically videos or audio recordings, that use artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to create realistic but fabricated content. The term originates from the merging of “deep learning”—a category of machine learning involving neural networks—and “fake,” indicating that the output is not authentic. Deepfakes often involve the manipulation of existing images or sounds to superimpose one person’s likeness or voice onto another’s, producing highly convincing results that can make it appear as if someone is saying or doing something they never actually did. This technology has raised ethical concerns regarding misinformation, privacy, and consent, as deepfakes can be used maliciously for deception or to create misleading narratives. While deepfakes can have legitimate uses in entertainment and creative industries, they also present significant challenges related to the authenticity of media in the digital age.
A private school in Pennsylvania is at the center of a controversy after a ninth grader allegedly used AI technology to fabricate explicit images of around 50 female classmates. The…