Exploring on the influence of Deepfakes and how to shield against AI trickery

April 29, 2024  |  12 – 1 PM  |  CMA 5.136

Talk summary

The emergence of deepfakes has ushered in a new era of deception and manipulation. From fabricated speeches to doctored videos or audios, the proliferation of synthetic media poses a grave threat to the integrity of information ecosystems worldwide. In ‘Exploring the influence of Deepfakes and how to shield against AI-trickery‘ we will navigate through the rise of deepfakes, examining their implications on societal trust, political discourse, and personal privacy. From the manipulation of video and audio content to the creation of convincing yet fabricated personas, deepfakes challenge conventional notions of reality and authenticity. This reflection also unveils strategies and technologies aimed at fortifying defenses against AI-trickery, empowering individuals and organizations to discern truth from fiction in an increasingly digitized world.

Speaker Bio

Since 2015, Dr. Dren Gërguri has been part of the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” in the Department of Journalism and has worked as a journalist since 2009. For a decade, he worked with the national broadcaster in Kosovo, Kohavision (KTV). After a break, he joined Paper Radio as editor-in-chief and launched his podcast, “Log me Dren Gërgurin.” Later, he returned to television with the show “EduMedia” on KTV from June to July 2022. In May 2021, he completed his doctoral studies in the “Science of Communication and Journalism” program at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina.” Currently, he is based in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Houston. Dr. Gërguri collaborates with the European Journalism Observatory (EJO) and HiveMind. He serves as associate editor at the Central European Journal of Communication. He has also lectured at various European universities, including San Pablo University of Madrid in Spain, Philipps University of Marburg in Germany, Wroclaw University in Poland, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and Ataturk University in Turkey. Additionally, he has been a guest lecturer at universities in the United States, such as the University of Houston, Iowa State University, and Drake University. His research focuses on disinformation, political communication, media effects, and populism. In his spare time, Dr. Gërguri enjoys reading and traveling.