The Future Will Be Synthesised

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Art And Business

20220519

The commercial uses of synthetic media are the key driving force behind the technology's rapid adoption. This has enabled personalised advertising where content can be tailored for individual audiences, the rise of virtual digital influencers with multi-million pound deals and millions of followers, and virtual designer clothing. Who's driving the commercial and creative uses of synthetic media? Should these synthetic creations be labelled to avoid deception? Deceased actors and singers are being used by advertisers to sell their products - should their likeness be used in this way without their consent? Start-ups are enabling celebrities to license their image or voice to be synthetically replicated for product endorsements at the press of a button. In a future where the market is saturated with synthetic advertising and personalisation, is authenticity going to be prized more than ever? Synthetic media has been embraced by some as the future of creativity. Generative art is a rapidly growing field, with artists both creating and collaborating with algorithms to push boundaries, generating infinite new music, scripts, paintings, and experimental projects. With synthetic media presenting new ways of creating artistic content, are human artists at risk? And who owns the art that AI produces?

Interviewees: The synthetic voice of YouTuber Vocal Synthesis; Kelsey Farish, media lawyer; Cathy Hackl, metaverse expert; Victor Riparbelli, Synthesia

Presenter: Henry Ajder

Producer: Flora Carmichael

Who owns the art that AI produces? Henry Ajder unpicks the creative and legal implications

Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.

Communication and relationships

20220520

Synthetic media could revolutionise the way we communicate. We could cut out unnecessary business travel by sending an avatar in our place, or allow people with degenerative diseases to speak in their own voices using AI. However, in our increasingly digital world, signs have already begun to suggest synthetic media is warping our perception of ourselves. Filters, photo and video editing, and constant airbrushing of reality may be contributing to a mental health crisis amongst young women, feeding into a withering of authenticity.
Advances in synthetic media mean we can synthetically replicate people more realistically than ever before. This includes activists bringing victims of injustice back to life' to spread a message, and private individuals who want to bring back their loved ones or to preserve themselves digitally. As synthetic media changes the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us, how will this change our thinking about our individuality and existence?
Interviewees: Manuel Oliver, campaigner; Alex Serdiuk, Respeecher, Brittan Heller, Atlantic Council

Presenter: Henry Ajder
Producer: Flora Carmichael

Henry Ajder explores positive future applications of synthetic media.

Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.

Deepfakes for disinformation

20220517

Ever since the 2018 mid-term elections in the US, people have been sounding the alarm that a deepfake could be used to disrupt or compromise a democratic process. These fears have not yet come to pass, but recently deepfakes of Zelensky and Putin were deployed as the Ukrainian conflict escalated. How much disruption did these deepfakes cause? How convincing were they? And are they an omen of things to come? Could deepfakes enhance disinformation campaigns that already cause significant harm? Presenter and synthetic media expert Henry Ajder unpicks the most recent deepfake video and speaks to a journalist who reported on an unusual news report which used a deepfake news presenter to attempt to spread disinformation in Mali.
Interviewees: Kateryna Fedotenko, Ukraine 24; Sam Gregory, Witness; Catherine Bennett, Le Monde/ France 24

Presenter: Henry Ajder
Producer: Flora Carmichael

Henry Ajder examines examples of political deepfakes, including a fake Zelensky video

Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.

Private pain - deepfake image abuse

20220516

What do we want the synthetic future to look like? It's seeping into our everyday lives, but are we ready? We need a conversation about the legal, policy and ethical implications for society.

Deepfakes' murky origins are in a form of sexual image abuse that is being used against hundreds of thousands of people, most of them women. Presenter and synthetic media expert Henry Ajder speaks to journalist Sam Cole, who first reported on deepfakes in 2018. She uncovered a Reddit forum sharing pornographic videos with the faces of famous Hollywood actresses transposed on to the bodies of porn performers. Since then the technology has become much more accessible and ordinary women have become the target. Henry interviews a woman who was targeted with deepfake image abuse, and considers what we can do to protect citizens from synthetic media's malicious uses.
Interviewees: Sam Cole, Vice; Noelle Martin, campaigner; Jesselyn Cook, NBC

Presenter: Henry Ajder
Producer: Flora Carmichael

Henry Ajder examines our synthetic future - starting with deepfake origins in pornography

Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.

The Future Will Be Synthesised

20220610

What do we want the synthetic future to look like? It's seeping into our everyday lives, but are we ready? We need a conversation about the legal, policy and ethical implications for society.

Interviewees: Sam Cole, Vice; Noelle Martin, campaigner; Jesselyn Cook, NBC

Presenter: Henry Ajder

Producer: Flora Carmichael

Henry Ajder examines our synthetic future - starting with deepfake origins in pornography

Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.

Threat to democracy?

20220518

If anything can be a deepfake, perhaps nothing can be trusted - and politicians can take advantage of the so called "Liars' dividend" by dismissing real media as fake.
In satire, deepfakes have already had a controversial impact, targeting politicians, business leaders, and celebrities. Meanwhile, convincing deepfake audio and video have the potential to create a new wave of fraud where faces, voices and bodies can be stolen.
These malicious uses of deepfake technology started out targeting celebrities and people in the public eye, but have become a mainstream challenge for cyber security professionals and ordinary individuals whose images have been used without their consent.
Deepfakes can be used to defame or discredit people - but on the flip side, the cry of deepfake' could undermine trust in the use of video evidence in the justice system.
What can we do to protect citizens from synthetic media's malicious uses? And might there be some positive applications for deepfakes in politics?
Interviewees: Sam Gregory, Witness; Nina Schick, author; Victor Riparbelli, Synthesia

Presenter: Henry Ajder
Producer: Flora Carmichael

Who can you trust in the synthetic future - and can deepfakes make you laugh?

Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
Art And Business	20220519	The commercial uses of synthetic media are the key driving force behind the technology's rapid adoption. This has enabled personalised advertising where content can be tailored for individual audiences, the rise of virtual digital influencers with multi-million pound deals and millions of followers, and virtual designer clothing. Who's driving the commercial and creative uses of synthetic media? Should these synthetic creations be labelled to avoid deception? Deceased actors and singers are being used by advertisers to sell their products - should their likeness be used in this way without their consent? Start-ups are enabling celebrities to license their image or voice to be synthetically replicated for product endorsements at the press of a button. In a future where the market is saturated with synthetic advertising and personalisation, is authenticity going to be prized more than ever? Synthetic media has been embraced by some as the future of creativity. Generative art is a rapidly growing field, with artists both creating and collaborating with algorithms to push boundaries, generating infinite new music, scripts, paintings, and experimental projects. With synthetic media presenting new ways of creating artistic content, are human artists at risk? And who owns the art that AI produces? Interviewees: The synthetic voice of YouTuber Vocal Synthesis; Kelsey Farish, media lawyer; Cathy Hackl, metaverse expert; Victor Riparbelli, Synthesia Presenter: Henry Ajder Producer: Flora Carmichael Who owns the art that AI produces? Henry Ajder unpicks the creative and legal implications Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.
Communication and relationships	20220520	Synthetic media could revolutionise the way we communicate. We could cut out unnecessary business travel by sending an avatar in our place, or allow people with degenerative diseases to speak in their own voices using AI. However, in our increasingly digital world, signs have already begun to suggest synthetic media is warping our perception of ourselves. Filters, photo and video editing, and constant airbrushing of reality may be contributing to a mental health crisis amongst young women, feeding into a withering of authenticity. Advances in synthetic media mean we can synthetically replicate people more realistically than ever before. This includes activists bringing victims of injustice back to life' to spread a message, and private individuals who want to bring back their loved ones or to preserve themselves digitally. As synthetic media changes the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us, how will this change our thinking about our individuality and existence? Interviewees: Manuel Oliver, campaigner; Alex Serdiuk, Respeecher, Brittan Heller, Atlantic Council Presenter: Henry Ajder Producer: Flora Carmichael Henry Ajder explores positive future applications of synthetic media. Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.
Deepfakes for disinformation	20220517	Ever since the 2018 mid-term elections in the US, people have been sounding the alarm that a deepfake could be used to disrupt or compromise a democratic process. These fears have not yet come to pass, but recently deepfakes of Zelensky and Putin were deployed as the Ukrainian conflict escalated. How much disruption did these deepfakes cause? How convincing were they? And are they an omen of things to come? Could deepfakes enhance disinformation campaigns that already cause significant harm? Presenter and synthetic media expert Henry Ajder unpicks the most recent deepfake video and speaks to a journalist who reported on an unusual news report which used a deepfake news presenter to attempt to spread disinformation in Mali. Interviewees: Kateryna Fedotenko, Ukraine 24; Sam Gregory, Witness; Catherine Bennett, Le Monde/ France 24 Presenter: Henry Ajder Producer: Flora Carmichael Henry Ajder examines examples of political deepfakes, including a fake Zelensky video Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.
Private pain - deepfake image abuse	20220516	What do we want the synthetic future to look like? It's seeping into our everyday lives, but are we ready? We need a conversation about the legal, policy and ethical implications for society. Deepfakes' murky origins are in a form of sexual image abuse that is being used against hundreds of thousands of people, most of them women. Presenter and synthetic media expert Henry Ajder speaks to journalist Sam Cole, who first reported on deepfakes in 2018. She uncovered a Reddit forum sharing pornographic videos with the faces of famous Hollywood actresses transposed on to the bodies of porn performers. Since then the technology has become much more accessible and ordinary women have become the target. Henry interviews a woman who was targeted with deepfake image abuse, and considers what we can do to protect citizens from synthetic media's malicious uses. Interviewees: Sam Cole, Vice; Noelle Martin, campaigner; Jesselyn Cook, NBC Presenter: Henry Ajder Producer: Flora Carmichael Henry Ajder examines our synthetic future - starting with deepfake origins in pornography Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.
The Future Will Be Synthesised	20220610	What do we want the synthetic future to look like? It's seeping into our everyday lives, but are we ready? We need a conversation about the legal, policy and ethical implications for society. Deepfakes' murky origins are in a form of sexual image abuse that is being used against hundreds of thousands of people, most of them women. Presenter and synthetic media expert Henry Ajder speaks to journalist Sam Cole, who first reported on deepfakes in 2018. She uncovered a Reddit forum sharing pornographic videos with the faces of famous Hollywood actresses transposed on to the bodies of porn performers. Since then the technology has become much more accessible and ordinary women have become the target. Henry interviews a woman who was targeted with deepfake image abuse, and considers what we can do to protect citizens from synthetic media's malicious uses. Interviewees: Sam Cole, Vice; Noelle Martin, campaigner; Jesselyn Cook, NBC Presenter: Henry Ajder Producer: Flora Carmichael Henry Ajder examines our synthetic future - starting with deepfake origins in pornography Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.
Threat to democracy?	20220518	If anything can be a deepfake, perhaps nothing can be trusted - and politicians can take advantage of the so called "Liars' dividend" by dismissing real media as fake. In satire, deepfakes have already had a controversial impact, targeting politicians, business leaders, and celebrities. Meanwhile, convincing deepfake audio and video have the potential to create a new wave of fraud where faces, voices and bodies can be stolen. These malicious uses of deepfake technology started out targeting celebrities and people in the public eye, but have become a mainstream challenge for cyber security professionals and ordinary individuals whose images have been used without their consent. Deepfakes can be used to defame or discredit people - but on the flip side, the cry of deepfake' could undermine trust in the use of video evidence in the justice system. What can we do to protect citizens from synthetic media's malicious uses? And might there be some positive applications for deepfakes in politics? Interviewees: Sam Gregory, Witness; Nina Schick, author; Victor Riparbelli, Synthesia Presenter: Henry Ajder Producer: Flora Carmichael Who can you trust in the synthetic future - and can deepfakes make you laugh? Henry Ajder examines the implications of the synthetic media seeping into our lives.