AI-generated images, video, or audio designed to convincingly depict real people saying or doing things they never did. Originally built on GAN technology, modern deepfakes use diffusion models and voice cloning to produce outputs that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality. Detection tools exist but consistently lag behind generation capabilities.
Why it matters
Deepfakes are the dark side of generative AI's creative power. They've been used for fraud, non-consensual intimate imagery, political manipulation, and identity theft. The technology is now accessible enough that anyone with a laptop can create convincing fakes, making detection, watermarking, and legal frameworks urgent priorities.