- Have you ever shared something true with a friend who, for whatever reason, refused to believe you? Your friend may have said, “No way,” or “Prove it.” All the while you knew what you said was 100 percent true. Tell us a bit about that experience. (Answers will vary. Remind students not to share names and to be respectful in the way they talk about other people and opinions.)
- Have you ever doubted something someone told you? If so, why didn’t you believe what was said? (Answers will vary.)
Deepfake videos have increased in popularity over the last few years as technology has made these videos easier to produce. Deepfake videos are videos in which someone uses the face and voice of someone else to create a video. Because the technology is so convincing, it can be nearly impossible to discern the difference between real and fake video content.
Deepfake videos, AI-generated content, and “fake news” are all things we have to grapple with as we determine what is real and what isn’t. There are many forms of media today and most are easily shared and accessed, meaning that what is fact, fiction, or simply funny all exist on a similar plane, particularly on the Internet. This puts some measure of responsibility on the hearer to be discerning about the message and messenger.
So, how can we tell when something we’re seeing, like a photo, is real or not? Let’s take a look at some tips for how to spot AI-generated images and videos.
Play the following video for your students [3:17; stop at 2:32]: How to spot deepfakes and AI-generated images
- Have you ever knowingly seen a deepfake video? What about the video indicated that it was fake? (Answers will vary.)
Many deepfake videos are created for fun, to show viewers what is possible with new technology. Others are posted in a malicious way, with intent to harm a person’s reputation or portray something bad about them to the public.
- Have you ever been fooled by a fake video? (Answers will vary.)
- How can we tell the difference between what is actually true and what is fake? (Answers will vary.)
Sometimes it seems like people are quick to believe fake things without fact-checking, yet slow to accept real news. Happily, the proof of some real good news was validated to Jesus’ disciples many years ago.