What is a Deepfake?

What it is: A deepfake is a fake video, image, or voice made by AI that looks or sounds real. They can be used for fun, but they’re also used to trick people.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to know what’s real online
Best if: You’ve seen a weird celebrity video and wondered if it was fake
Skip if: You already study deepfake detection

A deepfake is when AI fakes a video, image, or voice so well that it looks real. The person in the video might never have said those words. They might not even be a real person at all.

The name comes from “deep learning” (a type of AI) plus “fake.” It’s AI-powered faking.

How deepfakes are made

An AI watches lots of videos of one person. Then it learns their face, voice, and how they move. After enough practice, the AI can make that person “say” or “do” anything in a fake video.

Good uses

• Movie special effects (bringing back actors who passed away)
• Video game characters
• Making funny memes (when everyone knows it’s fake)
• Dubbing movies into other languages with the actor’s real voice

Bad uses

• Fake celebrity videos (scam ads)
• Fake phone calls (pretending to be your boss or family)
• Political fake news videos
• Fake voices to steal money from companies

How to protect yourself

• If a video seems too shocking, check the source.
• If a phone call from “your boss” asks you to send money fast, call them back on a number you trust.
• Look for weird blinking, jerky mouth movements, or blurry edges.
• When in doubt, slow down. Scammers want you to act fast.

You May Also Like

• What is Generative AI?
• What is AI Safety?
• What is Text-to-Video?
• AI Glossary: 100+ Terms Every Beginner Needs to Know