Replicas: Deep Fakes and Voice Replication

Fake news was scary enough ... but now it is going to a new level.  Technology is going to make it harder to find the “signal” in the “noise”.

Here is a preview of tech solutions (which already exist) that are likely to create a new set of problems and challenges for us in the future.

Replica is a company whose goal is to replicate celebrity voices. They see this as enabling creative applications of their voices without the commitment of the celebrity - of course the owner of the voice that's being replicated would control when/where it could be used.

Here's a video introducing Replica. 

 

 

Combine that ability to simulate voices with deepfake technology (which can alter video in many ways, including to look like the mouth in the video is is saying the words that were simulated) and the potential for confusion or deception skyrockets. 

Here is an example.

 

 

My guess is that you will hear a lot more about this soon because of upcoming elections.  It will also become increasingly relevant in everyday life, business, trading, and legal situations.

A picture used to be worth a thousand words, but this may change that equation forever.