TrueMedia, a Seattle-based AI nonprofit, has launched a new quiz to test people’s ability to spot deepfake images, videos, and audio clips. The quiz, released on Thursday, consists of 10 questions where users have to determine whether the media is real or fake. The quiz aims to assess the “deepfake IQ” of participants and raise awareness about the prevalence of deepfake content online as we approach election season. One question in the quiz shows a photograph of President Biden with a WWII veteran, while others feature videos of political figures like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
Oren Etzioni, the founder of TrueMedia, developed the free, web-based tool to act as a deepfake detector. He hopes to alert people to the dangers of misinformation circulating online and the difficulty in detecting deepfakes. Etzioni, a University of Washington professor, emphasizes the importance of addressing this social problem, especially with the rise of advanced AI that can create convincing deepfakes. TrueMedia, a nonpartisan organization, views deepfakes as a significant concern ahead of upcoming elections, where the spread of misinformation could have serious consequences.
Despite considering himself well-informed as a journalist, the author scored 80% on the TrueMedia deepfake quiz, missing on one manipulated image and one video. This highlights the challenge of determining the authenticity of online content, even for those who believe they are well-versed in current events. The quiz provides correct answers after each selection, offering explanations for why the media is real or fake. TrueMedia aims to empower the public with tools to combat deepfakes and encourages individuals to verify the sources of social media posts and images to prevent the spread of disinformation.
To help people detect deepfakes, Etzioni advises against solely relying on the “naked eye” and suggests using tools like TrueMedia when they are more widely available. He emphasizes the importance of checking the sources of content, questioning the origin of social media posts, and images to determine their authenticity. TrueMedia plans to release more quizzes and interactive features in the future to educate the public about deepfakes and provide tools to prevent the impact of misinformation, particularly in the lead-up to important elections. The organization aims to combat the spread of false information and raise awareness of the dangers posed by advancing AI technology in creating convincing deepfakes.
