Synthetic Media
AI-generated or AI-manipulated content including images, audio, video, and text that can be difficult to distinguish from authentic content. This includes deepfakes and AI-generated voices.
Why It Matters
Synthetic media creates both opportunities (content creation, accessibility) and threats (misinformation, fraud). Governance frameworks are essential.
Example
An AI-generated video of a CEO making a false announcement, or AI-cloned voice being used in a phone scam impersonating a family member.
Think of it like...
Like the difference between a painting and a photograph — except AI has made it nearly impossible to tell which is which, creating trust challenges.
Related Terms
Deep Fake
AI-generated media (especially video and audio) that convincingly depicts real people saying or doing things they never actually said or did. Created using deep learning techniques.
Generative AI
AI systems that can create new content — text, images, music, code, video — rather than just analyzing or classifying existing data. These models learn patterns from training data and generate novel outputs that resemble the original data.
Watermarking
Embedding hidden, detectable signals in AI-generated content to identify its origin and authenticity. Watermarks help distinguish AI-generated content from human-created content.
AI Governance
The frameworks, policies, processes, and organizational structures that guide the responsible development, deployment, and monitoring of AI systems within organizations and across society.