AI-synthesized faces are indistinguishable from real faces and more trustworthy

Artificial intelligence (AI)–synthesized text, audio, image, and video are being weaponized for the purposes of nonconsensual intimate imagery, financial fraud, and disinformation campaigns. Our evaluation of the photorealism of AI-synthesized faces indicates that synthesis engines have passed through the uncanny valley and are capable of creating faces that are indistinguishable--and more trustworthy--than real faces. Artificial intelligence (AI)–powered audio, image, and video synthesis--so-called deep fakes--has democratized access to previously exclusive Hollywood-grade, special effects technology. From synthesizing speech in anyone's voice (1) to synthesizing an image of a fictional person (2) and swapping one person's identity with another or altering what they are saying in a video (3), AI-synthesized content holds the power to entertain but also deceive. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) are popular mechanisms for synthesizing content.