Utah study finds many Americans can’t spot deepfake video

SALT LAKE CITY — More than half of Americans who encounter an artificial intelligence deepfake on social media don’t realize they’re looking at a deepfake, according to a new study by Utah Valley University.

More than half, 56%, of the over 200 test subjects from around the US couldn’t tell the difference between deepfakes and real content. That’s something Senior Project Analyst Hope Fager says was a surprise.

“One of the questions we’ve been asking is when deepfakes are going to get good enough that they’re actually convincing,” Fager said “That day is today.”

Fager said the speed at which deepfakes can be produced, and the ease, is a concern.

“I created this deepfake in a weekend on my own personal laptop with software I found online for free,” Fager said.