AI generated videos are fooling internet users, Oklahoma professors offer tips

Oklahoma professors shared tips with News 9 on how to identify real from AI generated videos earlier this month. 

“Previously, video was almost a truth, but now we just can’t rely on it,” said Dr. John Hassell, Professor at OU’s Polytechnic Institute. 

How real is AI video?

Some AI videos look so real that they fool thousands of people, like the video featuring several bunnies jumping on a trampoline – which millions of people liked and interacted with online. It turned out to be AI generated. 

“If we Zoom in and slow down the video and voice, we may distinguish subtle differences. There might be a slight mismatch between the lips and then voice, and then lighting – there might be some anomalies,” said Dr. John Rhee, Associate Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. 

However, some AI videos look too real. 

When asked how to decipher real from AI generated videos, Dr. Hassell said, “You can't reliably tell by looking." 

When judging by pixels isn’t an option, people can always judge by context, Dr. Hassell stated. 

"Who posted it first? Is it being confirmed by other outlets? Does the time and place fit? And if the clip is shocking and brand new, you need to treat it like an anonymous tip,” Dr. Hassell shared, adding, 

“Bottom line is: context beats content." 

Technology is still evolving, both professors acknowledged. 

“More and more new technologies are being developed to make those videos and voices more realistic day-by-day, and so therefore, this problem will get harder and harder.” 

At the same time, Dr. Rhee said there are people in academia working to create technology that distinguishes real from AI-generated content.

Dr. Hassell, who teaches software development and integration, said 60% of people have never used generative AI. 

“Just spend a few moments getting to know what it’s capable of and what it’s doing. It’s not scary, but you really need to know what’s happening,” Dr. Hassell encouraged.