Hani Farid

In this episode, Hani Farid, a UC Berkeley professor and digital forensics expert, delves into the alarming rise of AI voice cloning scams. He shares a chilling story of a father who nearly fell victim to a scam impersonating his son. Farid explains the technology behind these deceitful tactics and emphasizes the urgent need for consumer awareness. He offers practical tips for protecting oneself, such as creating family code words and staying skeptical of unexpected calls, highlighting the importance of vigilance in our tech-savvy world.

Hani Farid, a professor specializing in detecting manipulated media, dives deep into the tangled web of misinformation. He discusses how early tech company decisions shaped a new media landscape prioritizing engagement over truth. The rise of conspiracy theories and the 'Sharpie Gate' incident during the 2020 election exemplify the trust crisis in democracy. Farid also addresses the outrage economy, where emotional manipulation is used by politicians, and emphasizes the need for constructive engagement to combat societal divisions.

Hani Farid, a UC Berkeley professor and digital forensics expert, explores the alarming rise of AI-generated deepfakes, facilitated by the Sora 2 app. He discusses how these tools can create indistinguishable manipulated media, eroding our trust in visual content. Hani emphasizes the importance of understanding how deepfakes work and criticizes tech companies for rushing to release such technology without adequate safeguards. He highlights the broader societal impacts, including threats to democracy and the challenges of regulating this rapidly evolving landscape.