We need a 'Stop, Drop, and Roll' PSA for the AI age

"AI models like ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 can wolf down up to a dozen reference files-images, audio tracks, and camera movement samples-to flawlessly synthesize an alternate reality with no uncanny valley. And it costs only pennies do so."

"We have effectively handed the keys to the multiverse to any basement-dwelling sociopath with a Wi-Fi connection. Tal Hagin, an information warfare analyst, told Euronews exactly where we stand: 'We are no longer at the stage where it's six months away. We are already there: unable to identify what's AI and what's not.'"

"The instant satisfaction of buying into whatever candy social media throws at us, algorithmically tuned to support our preconceived ideas, is too much to resist. We want to believe because dopamine is so yummy. And the digital overlords of Silicon Valley and Beijing know it."

AI-generated video technology has reached a critical threshold where synthetic content is virtually indistinguishable from reality. Models like Seedance 2.0 can synthesize realistic videos from minimal reference materials at minimal cost, democratizing the creation of convincing misinformation. This capability poses a severe threat to truth and reality perception, as algorithms amplify content aligned with existing beliefs while dopamine-driven engagement encourages uncritical consumption. Tech companies profit from generative video technology without addressing the societal damage. The solution requires widespread critical thinking and skepticism toward all online content, though this remains extremely difficult given social media's psychological manipulation and algorithmic design.

Read at Fast Company