A newly released program allows users to create real-time deepfakes on video conferencing platforms including Zoom, and Skype.
Avatarify is an open-source program that can instantly transform the appearance of users during a video conference. Its developer, Ali Aliev, unveiled the software earlier this month on Youtube where he swapped his face with the likes of Steve Jobs, Eminem, Albert Einstein, and even the Mona Lisa.
Deepfakes are created via “deep learning” and artificial intelligence, and in this case existing footage of public figures is being used to create deceptive audio and visual content. Deepfaked content of Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg have all recently garnered widespread attention before being debunked.
While Avatarify currently requires significant technical expertise and relatively advanced hardware to be able to run, it represents a potential next step in the ongoing concern over the increasing ease with which faces and voices can be successfully mimicked in digital communications.
