“Technology should illuminate reality, not obscure it.” - Jaron Lanier, Computer Scientist and Author of You Are Not a Gadget
The rise and rise of AI-generated content
OpenAI’s Sora, a short-form video app, has blurred the lines between imagination and reality. Every clip on its feed is created only using artificial intelligence, showing people and events that never existed. Such innovations demonstrate AI’s creative power but also expose society to a flood of fabricated yet convincing media. For the first time, modern civilization is experiencing art as imagination gone wild.
Creativity unleashed in n dimensions
AI’s democratization of content has made artistry accessible to everyone, yet it has also triggered a crisis of truth. Hundreds of AI-generated videos, voices, and images now circulate online daily, with many sadly built with ulterior motives. As deepfakes evolve, distinguishing genuine content from digital illusions grows harder, leaving both creators and audiences struggling to trust what they see or hear.
What can governments do
The natural reaction is to clamp down. So, governments worldwide are attempting to regulate this new avalanche. California’s new law mandates provenance data for AI-generated content, while India is considering 'labelling norms' for AI-content. Labels can be just ignored by consumers, and strict rules drive misuse underground. The real challenge may actually be different.
Focus on fake, or focus on truth
There is a realization also that maybe instead of labelling falsehoods, we might just label what's authentic. Technology allows that via "content credentials" or digital certificates, embedded in metadata. Their absence could indicate some manipulation. So instead of forever detecting what's not real, we just verify what is real and get on with it!
The real has value
In our world now overwhelmed by a literal avalanche of AI-generated media, the policy goal can be to highlight the real, not just to label the fake. Perhaps authenticity needs a new approach in the digital AI age.
Summary
AI has made it nearly impossible to distinguish real from fake content. Instead of labelling false material, the focus can shift toward verifying and marking what’s authentic through digital provenance and content credentials that promote transparency and accountability.
Food for thought
If truth itself becomes editable, how will societies decide what is worth believing?
AI concept to learn: Content provenance
Content provenance refers to the digital tracing of an artifact’s origin, history, and edits. It ensures that every image, video, or document carries verifiable proof of who created it and how, forming the foundation of digital authenticity in the AI era.
[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]
COMMENTS