Careful out there: Debunking A.I generated Deep Fakes

Radio journalist Scott Mayman recently took on additional duties, with help from his colleagues at CBS: Verification of true factual videos and pictures and debunking A.I. generated Deep Fakes.

Scott (pictured above) tells the following story:

I’ve actually been doing this for about a year and got more cemented into it, after learning that there are so many Australian outlets which have axed such a much-needed job.

Today’s plane crash in Toronto is a great example and it’s the first time, I think, radio broadcasters have reached out, seeking verification of a video. “A PASSENGER PLANE – UPSIDE DOWN?” – the pictures can’t be true, right?”

I was contacted early this morning and asked that question.

That’s where my most recent training kicked in.  I was in a great position to verify the social media reels and pictures.

YES – the content was real – they were not A.I. generated.

The deep fake verifications are more than just ‘fact checking.’  Sometimes it can be a difficult and time-consuming process.

In today’s case, it was simple to verify.

It’s the first time I’ve been called on, here in Australia, to assist in such a probe into Deep Fakes and I hope there are more opportunities in the future.

Sadly, as time goes on, I’m sure someone will invent a deep-fake involving today’s incident.  But with the immediacy of the news, it was great to be the first phone call to be asked if the posts were factual or if it was A.I. generated.

It also helped to have the backing and support of my colleagues in the U.S. on this.