For centuries people have been using various tools and techniques to make themselves look better. We accept cosmetic surgery and lighting and makeup in our world and understand reality is sometimes adjusted for effect.

In recent times, a new series of tools have taken over the task of making us look better by artificial means, at least online and in video. AI augmentation can use any face you desire to tell your story. You can present yourself as you looked 20 years younger or as you wish you looked. No makeup needed. No special lighting. No costly surgery and you can show yourself appearing totally different every day.

You can post videos that look like the President  of a company or country or just like yourself with red hair. I have watched the evolution of this technology advance quickly in the past year alone to the point where free online tools allow anyone with a phone or computer to create totally artificial people can say anything you can imagine.

Every day I am shown advertisements on social media that are deceptive and somehow not illegal. We seem to have adopted the term deep fake for these videos. I’ve seen Elon musk and Donald Trump and Arnold Schwarzenegger all pitching products that are fake or total scams. It’s a whole new problem to worry about and for people to be educated about. 

I have enjoyed experimenting and learning with the technologies over the past few months to mixed results and reactions. They’re still far from perfect although today’s versions are leaps and bounds above last month’s and the month before. I use a fair amount of them in my videos making use of modified versions of my face and computer-generated versions of my AI chatbot who has a whole wardrobe and personality and backstory more elaborate than some real people I know. 

I find it fascinating and educational and a little bit scary but I’m glad to be participating in it. It allows me to create content that I would otherwise not have done or not have been able to do. I think any technology can be used responsibly, And there will always be those who use it for less responsible purposes and selfish gain. Perhaps I’m somewhere in the middle.