Chapter 1: The Allure of Deepfakes

I must admit, my intrigue with deepfakes runs deep; I even incorporate them into my teaching sessions, balancing them with more complex material that needs thorough clarification to meet my educational objectives. Often, I kick off a class by showcasing impersonations of well-known individuals through voice mimicking—think politicians or celebrities making statements they would never actually say—or by performing "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" from La Traviata. This approach serves to demonstrate how far this technology has progressed in recent years, allowing even a humble educator like myself to utilize it.

By the year 2020, deepfakes had proliferated, surfacing from the internet's shadowy corners for a multitude of applications, including memes. Similar to the trajectory of film technology since the late 1800s, the adult entertainment industry was among the first to harness deepfake's capabilities. This led to notable incidents, such as Scarlett Johansson, whose likeness was frequently misused, declaring that combatting it was a futile endeavor. Moreover, we've witnessed its use in political contexts, with leaders from Russia and Ukraine appearing in fabricated announcements about martial law or capitulation, while an Indian politician created a deepfake to address voters in various languages.

In 2022, Bruce Willis, who was grappling with a language disorder, reportedly entered into an agreement with a firm named Deepcake to utilize his voice in various media, including commercials and films. Although Willis swiftly refuted these claims, the damage was done: "deepfake actors" began to emerge, performing as famous stars while their authentic features were digitally overlaid. Why settle for pixelating or awkwardly distorting someone's face or voice when we can employ a deepfake that retains their expressions and persona?

The premiere episode of the latest Black Mirror season, titled "Joan is Awful" (spoiler alert), features Salma Hayek, who has relinquished her rights to a corporation reminiscent of Netflix, leaving her without control over the characters she portrays. If you haven’t watched it yet, you're in for an engaging experience.

We are, in fact, already inhabiting the dystopian reality envisioned by the brilliant creator of Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker, who delves into the murky territory that lies between our current state and a speculative future. An increasing number of celebrities are starting to contemplate relinquishing their voice or likeness rights to companies for various productions, from advertisements to films. Examples abound, including a stunt double of Neymar in a Puma commercial, NFL legend Deion Sanders at the outset of his career for Gillette, and a 38-year-old Jack Nicklaus interviewing his 83-year-old self, alongside well-known experiments blending the voices and mannerisms of actors like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. Entire industries are being reshaped, with little hope of reverting to previous norms, regardless of who opts to strike.

As Chico Marx would quip while impersonating Groucho… who are you going to trust, me or your own eyes? Now that’s a thought-provoking question.

Chapter 2: The Future of Deepfake Technology

Section 1.1: The Impact of Deepfakes on Society

Content discussing the societal implications of deepfakes...

Subsection 1.1.1: Legal and Ethical Considerations