Deepfake
Definition
A fake image, video, or audio clip made by AI to convincingly show a real person saying or doing something they never did. The technology has improved fast, and the best examples are hard to spot. Not all of it is malicious. Some is used for film and satire. But the same tools can be used to deceive, and that's the part worth paying attention to.
Why It Matters
Seeing is no longer quite believing. Knowing deepfakes exist, and that they keep getting better, is basic self-defence for anyone who reads the news or answers the phone.
What does that look like in practice?
A video clip shows a politician saying something they never said, made convincing by AI. That's a deepfake.
What people actually mean when they say this
When someone says 'that might be a deepfake,' they mean the image, video, or voice could be AI-made rather than real, however convincing it looks.
Last reviewed: June 2026
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