[thejarren]

Edit: this comment is referring to deepfakes more broadly, and is not a commentary on the validity of the source linked here. I can't speak to the reputability of the community developing this, or how it has been used so far. -- I'm a fairly visual and imaginative person, and it's pretty easy for me to come up with some very useful applications. No hostility intended, genuinely sharing my thoughts:

1. CGI for video editing - lower the bar of entry to de-age actors, or use a stand-in. Actor can't make it to a shoot that day? No worries, replace their face in post easily.

2. Identity protection - Cold call with someone that reached out to you, you're not sure if they're safe or dangerous, could be a good way to protect yourself.

3. Social media content for clients - become a fake avatar for hire essentially, customize your narrator for any video or brand. Video call centers with fake video (they already have voice modifiers and fake names), Enhanced VTuber sort of things (virtual avatars for streaming).

4. Unexpected outcomes: for example Holly Herndon created (and sold) access to an AI replica of her singing voice (n1), and I could see artists selling or renting access to their faces.

Obviously this can and will be used maliciously, but I personally could see myself using it for more positive reasons.

n1. https://holly.mirror.xyz/54ds2IiOnvthjGFkokFCoaI4EabytH9xjAY...

[kefka_p]

First let me thank you for a thoughtful riposte! I do appreciate that. My question was an honest one and I imagine, not the easiest to conceive an answer to. I genuinely appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts.

With that said almost every use-case cited was financial or monetary gain whereas I enquired about social utility and value.

That dishonesty ie creation of a fake avatar is cited as being of social utility strikes me as a reach. I don’t see how adding more dishonesty and facades to the world adds social value, but then I may just be of limited imagination.

[nyanpasu64]

I would appreciate being able to morph my appearance and voice on video calls, into something more reflective of my identity (facial structure, hair color, cat ears) than the body I was provided by circumstances.

[pjc50]

> every use-case cited was financial or monetary gain whereas I enquired about social utility and value.

Oh, right. I think the unfortunate answer is that nobody cares about that distinction any more and only about the former.

[UncleEntity]

> With that said almost every use-case cited was financial or monetary gain whereas I enquired about social utility and value.

It could allow people to petition their government [0] without having someone bust down their door at 3am and disappear forever.

[0] Which is apparently important enough to have been included in the bill of rights

[lonelyasacloud]

> It could allow people to petition their government [0] without having someone bust down their door at 3am and disappear forever.

Surely just wearing a mask - virtual or otherwise - does the job without the deep fakery?

[UncleEntity]

No doubt, but they wanted a non-capitalistic reason why this technology isn’t The Debil.

And having subtle clues from watching a person’s face while they’re proposing whatever action to overthrow the patriarchy is more convincing than some random person wearing a Guy Fawkes mask talking about revolution for the umpteenth time.

[kefka_p]

Whoa, whoa, I never claimed the technology was the “debil”. I merely asked for examples of viable, moral, unique uses of this tech.