Deepfakes are becoming a bigger part of our daily lives, blurring the line between real and fake. Just this month, a super convincing deepfake of Donald Trump appeared in an episode of South Park’s 27th season. It was so realistic that the White House had to comment on it. This shows how deepfakes are no longer just funny experiments—they’re now part of the news landscape.

Deepfakes in the News and Politics

Deepfakes aren’t just for laughs anymore. Back in 2018, a deepfake video was used in India to influence political campaigns. Since then, the technology has only gotten better. Investigations from outlets like the Washington Post reveal that AI models are becoming more advanced and harder to detect. Tools like OpenAI’s Sora are trained on vast data sets, making the fake videos more convincing and harder to spot.

This rapid progress raises concerns about misinformation. While the tech advances quickly, regulations lag behind. Governments and platforms are struggling to keep up with the potential for abuse. If someone with malicious intent creates a convincing fake video, it can spread false information quickly and easily. The risk is that the truth becomes harder to find in a sea of fabricated content.

The Entertainment and Advertising Shift

The entertainment industry is already exploring how AI can change storytelling. At recent events like IBC2025, broadcasters discussed how AI-generated videos are transforming advertising, audience engagement, and political messages. Creating content with AI is now faster and cheaper, making it attractive for producers and marketers. But this also means anyone can generate convincing videos, whether for entertainment or deception.

Platforms like Meta are pushing new features like Vibes, a generative video feed aimed at empowering creators. While this democratizes content creation, it also opens doors for misuse. Someone with a grudge or a joke can create highly convincing fake videos and share them widely. The risk is chaos—false clips spreading rapidly and influencing public opinion or causing confusion. Are these tools helping artists and creators, or are they just making it easier to spread misinformation?

The Impact on Society and Trust

For everyday viewers scrolling late at night, deepfakes present a confusing challenge. It’s harder than ever to tell what’s real. A viral video of a politician saying something outrageous might be fake, but it can still influence opinions. Researchers warn about an impending “info-apocalypse,” where truth becomes difficult to discern.

Journalists, storytellers, and news consumers face a tricky situation. Should they laugh at the absurdity, panic about the danger, or both? The reality is that deepfakes are here to stay. They’ve earned a place at the table of media and culture. The question now is how we will adapt and whether we can develop better ways to verify what we see online.

In the end, deepfakes challenge our understanding of reality. They can be tools for creativity and satire, but they also threaten to undermine trust in media and information. For many, the best approach might be to stay cautious, question what’s presented, and hope that technology and regulation catch up before the damage is done.

Inspired by

• https://ai2people.com/when-truth-looks-fake-how-deepfakes-crash-the-news-cycle/