Just as there are some (admittedly imperfect) technological solutions that attempt to prevent image software like Photoshop from being used to counterfeit money, there may be technological solutions that can mitigate the worst impacts of AI-enabled forgery. For instance, cameras could be designed that would hash encrypted video files in a block chain. This would not prevent later editing and forgery, but it would allow definitive, cryptographically secured evidence that a given version of a video or audio file existed at a given date. Though lay people would still struggle to know the truth, this might allow sophisticated investigators to definitively confirm that at least some versions were edited, since their hash date would be later than the original. This is but one potential research avenue to limit the impact of AI-enabled forgery.

"Lordy, I hope there are tapes," said an exasperated James Comey in his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8. Comey's desire reflects a familiar one for individuals accused of lying when the stakes are high. The former FBI director wished for tapes because, in our society, audio and video recordings serve as a final arbiter of truth. He said, she said always loses to what the tape shows. Greg Allen (@Gregory_C_Allen) is an adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

"Lordy, I hope there are tapes," said an exasperated James Comey in his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8. Comey's desire reflects a familiar one for individuals accused of lying when the stakes are high. The former FBI director wished for tapes because, in our society, audio and video recordings serve as a final arbiter of truth. He said, she said always loses to what the tape shows. Greg Allen (@Gregory_C_Allen) is an adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security.