TrueMedia, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization, has recently released a free AI-powered media verification tool aimed at helping journalists and fact-checkers detect deepfakes as a means to combat misinformation surrounding upcoming elections in the United States and internationally. The organization, founded in January and led by Oren Etzioni, a University of Washington professor and AI specialist, is funded by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp through the Camp.org nonprofit foundation. The tool has shown a high level of accuracy, detecting deepfakes with about 90% accuracy in images, videos, and audio using a combination of internally developed technology and AI detection tools from various partners.
The deepfake detector developed by TrueMedia has shown promising results, with the ability to identify fake content with a 90% accuracy rate. For example, the tool quickly identified a known fake video purporting to show Ukraine’s top security official claiming responsibility for a terrorist attack in Russia, with 100% confidence that the video contained AI-generated imagery. Etzioni stated that the tool’s effectiveness in detecting deepfakes is very high, making it a valuable resource for combatting disinformation and fake news.
TrueMedia has formed partnerships with several organizations, including Microsoft, to share data and resources and collaborate on different AI models and approaches to improving media verification. Other partners of TrueMedia include Hive, Clarity, Reality Defender, OctoAI, AIorNot.com, and Sensity. The organization’s goal is to help journalists and fact-checkers quickly debunk fake content and prevent the spread of misinformation during critical election periods.
The organization is carefully controlling access to the deepfake detection tool to prevent adversaries from learning too much about its approach and potentially finding ways to evade detection. However, authorized users can share links to assessments of different content through the TrueMedia website. Etzioni emphasized the importance of getting the tool into the hands of journalists and fact-checkers, with plans to integrate it directly into web browsers and social media platforms to increase accessibility and usage.
Oren Etzioni, the founder of TrueMedia and a prominent figure in the AI community, has stated that AI in the field of deepfake detection is advancing rapidly, with new tools and algorithms emerging constantly. Despite the dynamic nature of the field, Etzioni remains confident in the ability of detection technology to keep up with the evolving landscape of AI-generated content. The deepfake detector launched by TrueMedia represents a significant step in the fight against misinformation and fake news, particularly in the context of important elections across the globe.
In summary, TrueMedia’s release of a free AI-powered media verification tool is a significant development in the effort to combat deepfakes and misinformation surrounding critical political events such as elections. The organization’s deepfake detector has shown a high level of accuracy in identifying fake content, providing journalists and fact-checkers with a valuable tool to verify media authenticity. With partnerships with organizations such as Microsoft and plans to expand accessibility through web browsers and social media platforms, TrueMedia is poised to make a positive impact in the fight against disinformation and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes globally.
