How do deepfake videos work and what are their societal risks?

Deepfake videos make it look like someone is saying or doing something they never actually said or did, like a movie star talking to a robot, but without any special effects.

Imagine you have a photo of your favorite toy. Now, imagine that photo starts moving and talking, just like you! That's what deepfake videos do, they take real pictures or videos of people and make them look like they're doing new things.

Deepfakes use computer tricks to move a person’s face in a video, making it seem like they’re saying different words. It’s like taking a rubber mask from a costume party and moving it around on someone's face, but with a computer doing the work.

Sometimes people use deepfakes to fool others, like when fake videos make it look like a famous person is saying something silly or even lying. This can cause confusion, especially if the video spreads online quickly, like how a funny meme can go viral.

Deepfakes are like a costume party trick, fun at first, but they can become hard to tell apart from real things if you're not careful!