Understanding AI, Deepfakes, and the Future of Journalism
Artificial Intelligence has rapidly become a part of our everyday lives. From AI generated images on Instagram to voice cloning and edited political videos, technology is evolving faster than most people expected. While AI has made many tasks easier and more creative, it has also created serious concerns for journalism and society.
One of the biggest concerns today is the rise of deepfakes and synthetic media. Deepfakes are digitally altered videos, images, or audio clips that are created using Artificial Intelligence to make something appear real even when it is completely fake. A person’s face, voice, or expressions can be manipulated so realistically that viewers often fail to identify the difference between reality and fabrication.
At the same time, AI is not entirely harmful. It is also helping journalists with research, translation, editing, and faster news production. The real challenge lies in using technology responsibly and teaching audiences how to verify information before believing or sharing it online.
To understand how aware young people are about this issue, I interacted with students from different schools at LPU and asked them about their experiences and opinions regarding AI generated content and deepfakes.
Student Voices on AI and Deepfakes
Riddhi Chauhan
School of Business
Q1. Have you ever come across fake or AI generated content online without realizing it initially?
“Yes, many times actually. Recently I saw an AI generated interview clip of a celebrity on Instagram and I genuinely thought it was real until people in the comments pointed out that it was fake. It looked extremely convincing.”
Q2. Do you think AI generated content is becoming dangerous for journalism and social media users? Why?
“I think it becomes dangerous when people blindly trust everything they see online. False information spreads very quickly and sometimes people do not even verify it before sharing it further.”
Q3. What should people do before believing or sharing online content?
“People should check multiple sources and not rely only on one reel or one post. Fact checking has become very important now.”
Anuja Ahuja
School of Computer Science & Engineering
Q1. Have you ever come across fake or AI generated content online without realizing it initially?
“Yes. As a tech student I usually notice edited content quickly, but some AI videos today are so advanced that even I get confused sometimes.”
Q2. Do you think AI generated content is becoming dangerous for journalism and social media users? Why?
“Yes, especially because AI can now clone voices and create realistic videos. If such content is used during elections or sensitive situations, it can create panic and misinformation.”
Q3. What should people do before believing or sharing online content?
“They should verify the original source, search whether trusted news platforms have reported it, and avoid forwarding content emotionally without checking facts.”
Trinity
School of Business
Q1. Have you ever come across fake or AI generated content online without realizing it initially?
“Yes, especially on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Sometimes AI edited videos are made only for entertainment, but initially they still look real.”
Q2. Do you think AI generated content is becoming dangerous for journalism and social media users? Why?
“I think it depends on how people use it. AI itself is not bad, but people can misuse it to spread fake narratives or manipulate audiences.”
Q3. What should people do before believing or sharing online content?
“They should slow down before reacting. Nowadays people instantly share things online without checking whether the information is authentic or not.”
Abhinav Chaudhary
School of Animation and Multimedia
Q1. Have you ever come across fake or AI generated content online without realizing it initially?
“Yes. Since I study animation and visuals, I often notice AI generated images online. Some of them are easy to identify, but newer tools are becoming extremely realistic.”
Q2. Do you think AI generated content is becoming dangerous for journalism and social media users? Why?
“It can definitely become dangerous because visuals have a strong emotional impact on people. If manipulated visuals are presented as real news, they can easily influence public opinion.”
Q3. What should people do before believing or sharing online content?
“I think media literacy is very important now. People should learn basic verification methods and understand that not everything online is trustworthy.”
Arpit Aggarwal
School of Computer Science & Engineering
Q1. Have you ever come across fake or AI generated content online without realizing it initially?
“Yes, especially AI voice clones. I once listened to an audio clip online that sounded completely authentic, but later it turned out to be artificially generated.”
Q2. Do you think AI generated content is becoming dangerous for journalism and social media users? Why?
“Yes, because technology is advancing faster than public awareness. Many people still cannot differentiate between real and AI generated content.”
Q3. What should people do before believing or sharing online content?
“They should cross check information from reliable news sources and avoid trusting edited clips without context.”
Conclusion
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the media industry in both positive and concerning ways. While AI tools are improving efficiency and creativity in journalism, they are also increasing the spread of misinformation through deepfakes and synthetic media. Today, audiences are constantly exposed to manipulated visuals, edited audio, and misleading narratives online.
The opinions shared by students from different academic backgrounds show that young people are aware of the growing influence of AI generated content. Most students agreed that deepfakes can become harmful when people fail to verify information before sharing it. At the same time, they also recognized that responsible usage, media literacy, and fact checking can help reduce the risks associated with AI in journalism.
In an era where technology can blur the line between reality and fiction, critical thinking and responsible media consumption have become more important than ever.