Nature Podcast

This isn't the Nature Podcast — how deepfakes are distorting reality

Sep 27, 2023

Learn about the dangers of AI deepfakes and the efforts being made to combat them. Discover ultra-accurate measurement of Earth's day-length and the unique survival tactic of snow flies. Uncover evidence of ancient woodworking and its implications for early hominins. Explore the excitement and precautions surrounding the landing of the Osiris Rex mission capsule. Discuss the future of sample return missions and the importance of protecting archaeological sites.

30:55

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Quick takeaways

AI-generated deepfakes pose real-world threats, and researchers are developing tools to detect and tag synthetic content to mitigate their impact.

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of advanced woodworking skills in ancient hominins, providing insights into their technology and shared knowledge.

Deep dives

The Rise of AI-generated Deepfakes

AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated reality through edited photos, altered audio, and faked videos, have become increasingly prevalent due to the accessibility of generative artificial intelligence technologies. Deepfakes have real-world impacts, from financial scams to causing stock market fluctuations. Researchers and companies are working on two technological solutions: tagging content to indicate AI generation and developing algorithms to detect synthetic content. However, neither solution is perfect, and regulation is needed to enforce safety standards. Additionally, education and awareness are crucial in helping people recognize and protect themselves from deepfakes.

Introduction

2min

The Dangers and Solutions of Deep Fakes

9min

Measuring Earth's Spin with the Ring Laser Interferometer

2min

Extreme Survival Tactic of Snow Flies and Ancient Woodworking Discoveries

2min

Exploring Wooden Artifacts at Colombo Falls

7min

Landing the Sample from Deep Space

7min

Osiris Rex mission and the future of sample return missions

3min

In this episode:

00:45 How to tackle AI deepfakes

It has long been possible to create deceptive images, videos or audio to entertain or mislead audiences. Now, with the rise of AI technologies, such manipulations have become easier than ever. These deepfakes can spread misinformation, defraud people, and damage economies. To tackle this, researchers and companies are developing tools to find and label deepfakes, in an attempt to rob them of their potential to wreak havoc.

News Feature: How to stop AI deepfakes from sinking society — and science

11:17 Research Highlights

Ultra-accurate measurement of Earth’s day-length using lasers, and the insect that amputates its own legs to survive the cold.

Research Highlight: How lasers detect day-length changes of a few milliseconds

Research Highlight: Snow-loving flies amputate their own legs for survival

14:04 Stacked timbers might be evidence of ancient woodworking

Ancient stone tools are well preserved in the archeological record, and are used by researchers to understand the lives of ancient hominins. But other materials like wood are less common, since they will only preserve under specific conditions. Now researchers have found a trove of wooden artefacts in Zambia dated to be around 476,000 old. In particular, stacked timbers from the site could be the earliest known wooden structure, perhaps implying that ancient hominins had a greater capacity for woodworking than previously thought.

Research article: Barham et al.

News & Views: Hominins built with wood 476,000 years ago

Nature News: These ancient whittled logs could be the earliest known wooden structure

22:00 OSIRIS-REx brings haul of asteroid dust and rock back to Earth

This week, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx successfully landed a capsule containing rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu. We talk with reporter Alex Witze, who was on the ground in Utah when the samples landed, to find out what these ancient rocks could reveal about the origins of the Solar System.

Nature News: Special delivery! Biggest-ever haul of asteroid dust and rock returns to Earth

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