Milwaukee tech leaders discuss deepfakes and advancing Artificial Intelligence technology
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- More layers continue to fold into what we know about the world of artificial intelligence. The latest addition to the technology known as deepfake models, an extension of deep learning, which creates false videos or images which have been altered to misrepresent a person or situation which has never happened.
The latest company to adapt this AI model is Meta, the parent company of Facebook.
The tech giant recently purchased the audio and likeness of several dozen celebrities to intentionally create 'deepfake' alter egos for consumers to follow and interact with.
The advancement of AI, alarming some cyber security experts.
"We're not great about understanding it and also verifying trust," said Tina Chang, CEO of SysLogic, Inc., a tech consulting firm which deals with cyber security.
Chang said there might be hidden intentions behind this new world of AI.
"If we get applications or certain functionalities for free, we are giving up something valuable in exchange," said Chang.
Meta reportedly paid top dollar to create what they call a universe of characters who will chat and personally interact with you, for free, the cast formed out of some of the world's most recognizable public figures.
The "chatbots" encourage followers to interact and grow with them, something Chang said people should be leery of the technology.
"More to just convince you that they're trusting and that you should interact with them because they are cool, it is garnering more and more private information from us," said Chang.
"There's a lot that was hypothesized and discussed, well it could be doing this, and it could be doing that, and a lot of those opportunities are becoming real," said Derek Riley a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Milwaukee School of Engineering
Riley said the science has always been here, it's just been matter of adding up the numbers.
"Neural networks underpin almost everything that's driven innovation in AI today, they're the foundation of everything, almost everything that's out there," said Riley.
"Really just a matter of we're able to build bigger and bigger brains and feed it more and more data and because of that, they have been able to develop these systems that can really develop realistic images and text and that sort of thing."
The tech so controversial, it's caught the eye of Washington.
"More concentrated efforts are needed at both the federal and state levels and the role of congress cannot be understated," said Tom Romanoff director of the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Leaders in the tech space said Deepfake technology has left them with more questions than answers.
"How do they make money, why would they be doing this, and why would they be giving this away for free, because there is always another side to that coin," said Chang.
"The realist in me says, "okay, when is the bust happening,' but I've been asking that for years now and it doesn’t feel imminent," said Riley.
In October, U.S. Senators drafted a bipartisan piece of legislation meant to protect people in the entertainment industry from AI programs from creating deepfakes. The legislation is called Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES).
A press release sent out by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D) reads in part:
The NO FAKES Act would prevent a person from producing or distributing an unauthorized AI-generated replica of an individual to perform in an audiovisual or sound recording without the consent of the individual being replicated. The person creating or sharing the unauthorized replication would be liable for the damages caused by the AI-generated fake. Exclusions are provided for the representation of an individual in works that are protected by the First Amendment, such as sports broadcasts, documentaries, biographical works, or for purposes of comment, criticism, or parody, among others.