Deepfake technology is improving fast, and the latest AI system, OmniHuman-1, is proof of that. Created by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, this AI can make some of the most realistic fake videos we’ve ever seen. Unlike older deepfake tech that often looked a bit off, OmniHuman-1 creates videos that look shockingly real.
What Can OmniHuman-1 Do?
Deepfake technology has been around for years, letting people swap faces in photos and videos. But many deepfake videos still looked unnatural. You could often tell they were fake.
OmniHuman-1 changes that. It needs just one picture and an audio clip to make a video. You can adjust things like the video size and even how much of the person’s body is shown. It can also edit existing videos, changing how people move. The results look so real that they can fool anyone.
This AI has learned from 19,000 hours of video, though the sources are unknown. ByteDance has shown some impressive examples, like a fake Taylor Swift concert, a made-up TED Talk, and even a deepfake video of Einstein giving a lecture.
The Danger of Deepfakes
Right now, OmniHuman-1 isn’t available to the public, but experts say similar models could appear soon. This is worrying because deepfakes have already been used to spread false information.
Last year, fake videos affected elections. In Taiwan, a deepfake audio clip made it sound like a politician supported a rival. In Moldova, a deepfake showed the president quitting. In South Africa, a fake Eminem video was used for political reasons. If deepfakes become more advanced, they could make it harder to know what’s true.
Deepfakes are also being used to scam people. Criminals create fake videos of celebrities promoting scams, tricking people into losing money. Companies have been fooled by deepfake impersonations, costing them millions. A report from Deloitte says AI fraud caused over $12 billion in losses in 2023 and might reach $40 billion by 2027.
Can Deepfakes Be Stopped?
Many experts believe deepfake technology should be regulated. Last year, AI researchers signed a letter asking for strict rules against deepfakes. But in the U.S., there is no national law against them yet. Some states have created their own laws, and California is working on a rule that would let judges order deepfake videos to be taken down.
Even with new laws, deepfake content is growing fast. A 2024 survey by Jumio found that 60% of people saw a deepfake in the past year, and 72% worried about getting tricked by one. Most people in the survey supported new rules to control deepfakes.
What’s Next?
As deepfake technology gets better, it will become harder to tell real videos from fake ones. Social media and search engines are trying to fight this, but the problem is growing quickly. OmniHuman-1 is just the beginning. If we don’t act soon, fake videos could make it very difficult to trust what we see online.
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