Entertainment
Scientists Are Implanting Subjects with Fake Memories — Here’s How
Clear Facts:
- A recent study published in PLOS One demonstrates that deepfake technology can successfully implant false memories by showing viewers deepfaked clips of non-existent movie remakes.
- On average, 49% of the study participants were tricked by the deepfake videos. However, the study also found that deepfakes weren’t more effective than simple text descriptions at distorting memory.
- The lead researcher emphasized the importance of evidence-based approaches to understanding the harms of deepfakes and urged for increasing technological literacy to help individuals distinguish between deepfaked and real media.
Deepfake technology is proving to be a powerful tool for implanting false memories, according to a recent study conducted by researchers and published in the journal PLOS One.
The researchers demonstrated this by showing participants deepfaked clips of non-existent movie remakes, which successfully tricked a significant portion of the viewers into believing they were genuine.
In the study, deepfaked footage was created for supposed remakes of popular movies, such as Will Smith taking on the lead role in a rebooted “The Matrix”.
Many of the 436 study participants were convinced by the deepfake videos, with some even ranking these fictitious remakes as superior to the original films.
An average of 49% of participants were deceived by the deepfake videos, and 41% of this group believed the “Captain Marvel” remake, featuring Charlize Theron, was better than the original.
However, the study also highlighted an interesting observation: deepfakes weren’t more effective than simple text descriptions at implanting false memories.
This finding led the researchers to caution against fears that deepfakes pose a unique and potent threat to memory distortion.
Lead study author Gillian Murphy, a misinformation researcher at University College Cork in Ireland, stated, “Yes, there are very real harms posed by deepfakes, but we should always gather evidence for those harms in the first instance, before rushing to solve problems we’ve just assumed might exist.”
Nevertheless, the study underscored the need to stay vigilant as generative AI continues to improve and become more convincing.
One suggested defense against deepfakes is increasing technological literacy, so people can better distinguish between deepfaked and real media.
Sean Richman
August 6, 2023 at 9:01 pm
The biggest fake memory,the”SWAMPERS”that are destroying our once great country.The only way that patriotic AMERCANS can win is to stop this liberal,socialist,marxist,democRATIC corruption.Drain the swamp is no longer a solution.The only solution to drain the swamp is two thousand gallons of”ROUNDUP”and many applications to kill the swamp.
ssilv48
August 14, 2023 at 3:46 pm
The swamp is not smart enough to see they are losing, they do need to pay the price, put me in charge and it will never happen again in America, righting the ship is easy
Patti
August 22, 2023 at 7:19 pm
I believe this is exactly what the Left has been doing to our citizens. No wonder they can’t think for themselves.
Jeremy
August 27, 2023 at 7:54 am
We the people need to get off of our collective asses and make our voices heard at the voting booth! The only way we are ever going to fix anything in Washington is to elect good people to positions where they will be able to appoint good leaders for all of the bureaucracies where the swamp thrives.