Latest news with #reality
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
We Have Six Months Until AI Breaks Reality, This Tool May Buy Us Time
Deepfakes first entered the chat in 2017. And in the eight years since, reality's been slowly melting at the edges. We now live in a world where everything around you might be fake to the point where Plato need not bother with the whole cave to make us suspicious about everything around us. That video of your CEO praising a new supplier and asking to push that invoice through ASAP? That 'voicemail' from your partner left asking for help after a car crash? Or what about that Zoom call you swear you had with the banker before wiring the downpayment? Good luck with that in 2025. We've already seen banks move millions after deepfaked video calls with synthetic executives. North Korean operatives have quietly embedded fake remote workers into unsuspecting companies. And every 12-year-old with a phone can now clone your voice from less than an Instagram post's worth of audio and hijack your meetings in real time. And it's not only the malicious attacks that are having us rethink our expectations about reality. Just this week, Vogue was caught with its haute-couture pants down right in the middle of a controversy as it was found publishing an AI-generated Guess ad that blew up for all the wrong reasons, showing how even 'white hat' use cases are literal live wires for companies. Adobe's Content Authenticity Initiative, OpenAI's watermarking schemes, and Meta's attempts at labeling AI content are valiant efforts to protect reality, sure. But if we're honest, all of them are simply Band-Aids on a ruptured mainline that has long since burst at its seams. The fundamental problem isn't that we can't tell what's real. We can find ways to deal with that, just as we've come to terms with living with fraud of the more traditional kind. It's that we've built an AI ecosystem that constantly eats its own tail in a positive feedback loop that never allows us to sigh in relief of having finally fixed the broken dam. Each generation of fake content becomes training data for the next, and reality itself is now recursive. And it's catching the once all-powerful flat-footed and ill-equipped as it marches along. In fact, seeing how far the deepfakes have gone can be an entirely shocking experience. 'We had recently taken on the habit of starting our sales meetings by showing up as whomever we are pitching to, to showcase just how dangerous it is,' says Ben Colman, CEO of Reality Defender, a pioneering deepfake detection platform. 'The reaction is an instant jaw drop and a very visceral one at that. Shortly after we started we realized we actually have to start asking for permission before we shock people like that.' At a federal presentation earlier this year, their demo was cut short when security realized the implications. 'We were pulled from the stage mid-sentence in case the impersonation leaks and moves markets,' he adds. In the span of a few quarters, impersonation has graduated from trickery to full-spectrum mimicry. We once thought our avatars would empower us but it turns out that they've just made it that much easier to steal our identities wholesale. And so the economy of trust fractures Cybersecurity has always been an arms race, red team versus pitted against blue team. It's an incredibly asymmetrical arms race at that, where offense gets to be fast, cheap, and unregulated while defense gets bureaucracy, audits, and paperwork. And when they do their job, everything is simply as they should be, no celebration needed. 'The blue team has been underwater for years,' Colman says. 'Every time we get a new verification method, voice, face, behavior, it gets cracked the next month. There's no such thing as a stable identity anymore.' That isn't to say that the defense stack hasn't grown more capable itself. Companies like Estonia's Veriff built its way up to unicorn status based on identity verification, layering passive liveness detection and anti-spoofing protocols. Pindrop rose to fame securing voice authentication systems with signal-based anomaly detection, and many others have followed suit. But no matter how many bricks we stack on top of each other, the wall isn't holding. Not least because of how we now have Big Bad AI blowing at it with the goal of eating us all up. 'We're seeing non-human identities and AI agents accessing sensitive data without proper guardrails,' says Hed Kovetz, CEO of Silverfort. 'AI agents are a gift to enterprises, but they're just as powerful in the hands of attackers. For this part of the arms race nobody has the definite playbook yet, and we need to move fast.' Kovetz's company recently rolled out an agentic identity security product which is the enterprise's way of acknowledging that we now need to manage our AI assistants and API entry points like we do with humans. Reality Defender is also cognizant of the latest stage of the arms race being decidedly tipped against the enterprise. 'AI has made it dead simple to offer attacks at scale,' Colman explains. 'Malware-as-a-service was the start and impersonation-as-a-service is next. Send us a LinkedIn profile and three YouTube clips, and we'll give you a working clone for your next scam.' Give it a month or two, and we'll have a Cameo marketplace for deepfakes? Or perhaps somewhere deep in the bowels of the dark web something it has already set up shop right next to malware-as-a-service kits like RedLine and LummaC2 that are already flooding Telegram groups. The leap to commercialized deepfake impersonation is a small one compared to the jumps the red team has already done before. So how do you fight a threat that scales like spam but devastates like fraud? Detection on demand Colman's team offers one solution that hinges on an insight others will surely follow with. In order for us to have a fighting chance against the deepfakes, we need to make detecting happen instantly, and at scale. In pursuit of this goal, Reality Defender has launched their public API that lets any app developer build in deepfake defense in minutes. 'We've gone modality by modality and we've aimed for immediacy and access through and through,' says Colman. 'First audio, then images and from there video. We want to move faster than the red team does, and that means detecting deception as it happens—not after it's gone viral.' What Reality Defender's launch has us acknowledge head on is how the old model of verify once and you're done, is over. Identity is now a moving target that has to be tracked, interrogated, and confirmed in motion everywhere. The mask can come off at any time. And you need to be there when it does. 'Trust infrastructure can't be bolted on later,' Colman explains. 'It has to be in the bloodstream. We're not solving this with quarterly audits or occasional ID checks. We need persistent, real-time defense.' Alex Lisle, Reality Defender's CTO, puts it like this: 'We want deepfake detection to be as routine as spam filtering. If you're still thinking about whether to implement it, you're already behind.' And he's not alone in that thinking. 'I've been a supporter of the Reality Defender team since the beginning,' said Zoe Weinberg, Founder of ex/ante ventures which participated in the company's recent raise. 'Making this platform accessible to every developer is how we win.' Accessible, yes, but even that is just the beginning. Because soon every vendor will need to evolve from point-in-time checks to identity streams. Instead of one-offs, we'll need a steady pulse of verification, detection, and authentication, constantly running in the background, like the heartbeat of your infrastructure. You see, reality, in 2025, is no longer a stable and objective construct. It's a contested space, where those who want to uphold it, are at risk of being outgunned by those who want to undermine it. Reality Defender may have handed the good guys a better weapon, but it's up on the rest of the industry to scale this into an arsenal.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Social media is just such a false perception of reality" - Caitlin Clark shares the secrets to staying grounded in the era of social media and fame
"Social media is just such a false perception of reality" - Caitlin Clark shares the secrets to staying grounded in the era of social media and fame originally appeared on Basketball Network. In a sports world heavily influenced by social media, professional athletes can easily get lost in what's real and what's not. With people having access to platforms where they can share their thoughts on various sports leagues, including the WNBA, players must find a way to stay grounded and not be affected by the noise. One superstar who has had to navigate this daily since her rise to stardom in the NCAA while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes is Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. As immensely popular as she has been, especially since she entered the pros, she has been a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. In an interview on the "A Touch More" podcast with WNBA legend Sue Bird and women's football icon Megan Rapinoe, she reflected on what inspires her to keep going, even in the face of sharp criticism from pundits and, occasionally, her own peers. A false reality Social media is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, anyone can get in touch with anyone else in the world and, with a few taps on a smartphone or a keyboard, offer their thoughts and opinions to an audience. On the other hand, people feel empowered to say things they may not have the courage or opportunity to say in person; at times, these things can be hurtful or damaging to others. For Caitlin, this has become an all-too-familiar aspect of her life. With her stature as the most popular woman hooper in the world who has helped elevate the WNBA to new heights since joining the league last year, she receives both praise and criticism on a daily basis. While the praise gives her motivation and drive to continue excelling on the court, the criticism can be taxing. However, she never dwells on such things, reminding herself that the social media world is just that — another world. "You have to remember, like, social media is just such a false perception of reality," Caitlin surmised. "And even for myself, you don't always realize that at times, that it's not the real world." The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year said what helps keep her feet firmly on the ground is what she sees before her when she arrives at the arena. "When you're in a position where people are going to love you and people aren't going to like you, showing up to arenas really reminds me how many people are actually there supporting and loving you," Caitlin shared. "Like, the little boys and little girls — those aren't the people on social media caring about every decision you make or every comment you post." Caitlin tries to be as authentic as possible By now, Caitlin has gotten used to all the attention she receives in the real and digital world. She understands that in this day and age, everyone has a platform to shout their opinions, whether good or bad. But she chooses to focus on the positive and stay true to herself. "I just try to show up every single day and be myself. I approach it that way — just being authentically me," she humbly declared. "Whether that means answering hard questions or facing hard moments, I just try to take it as it goes." Above all, she understands the significance of the position she's earned — a role she has tirelessly worked for, and one that many women in basketball aspire to achieve. "I always try to remind myself how lucky I am to be here and to be in this position. There are so many people who would kill to be in my shoes," Caitlin expressed. "Yeah, there are going to be hard moments. But at the same time, there have been a lot of really good moments, too. So, that's what I try to remind myself, honestly." This season has been a mixed bag for Caitlin as she has endured numerous injuries, including a hamstring strain that kept her out of the WNBA All-Star Game last Saturday. However, with the Fever's stretch run starting on Tuesday, she's determined to push through and help her team improve on their first-round exit last story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Wall Street Journal
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Trump Will Pay a Political Price of Conspiracy Theories
We're seeing what happens when conspiracy collides with reality. For most of the past 10 years, Donald Trump's hold on his party's base has been unbreakable. Many of his supporters view him in quasi-religious terms. Which makes l'affaireJeffrey Epstein such a consequential moment. It's the first time there's been a break in the MAGA ranks. The fallout from it may linger.
Washington Post
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Ozzy Osbourne's fame never felt as big as his music
It takes great effort to cleanse your brain of the bat biting and reality television goofballing, but please try hard because the futuristic wail of Ozzy Osbourne — especially during an impeccable decade he spent in the band Black Sabbath — still has something important to tell you. Namely, that it can feel good to be frightened by your nightmares when reality is worse.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Vicky Pattison shares candid snap of her 'belly hanging out' after flaunting her figure in skimpy red bikini while holidaying in the Maldives
Vicky Pattison shared a candid snap of her 'belly hanging out' as she revealed the reality of returning home from holiday after her getaway with Ercan Ramadan. The former Geordie Shore star, 37, and her husband Ercan jetted off on a lavish holiday to the Maldives where she shared a slew of stunning bikini snaps. However, Vicky also shared a more realistic behind the scenes look at her life as she posed in a slouchy T-shirt with her stomach out, wearing a £650 hair growth helmet. She captioned the post: 'Awwww home sweet home.... I absolutely LOVED our holiday... but how nice is getting home as well? To your comfy old clothes, your own bed and your favourite snacks? 'Just being able to let it all hang out while in your period pants with your belly hanging out like Winnie the Pooh in the comfort of your own home is a TOP feeling isn't it?!! 'Also, big shout out Mother Nature for giving my my period the day I travelled home... cheers lass!' The photo displayed quite the contrast between those shared by Vicky while on holiday, with the former I'm A Celeb winner sporting a glamorous look in a red bikini, which highlighted her stunning figure. But she had received backlash after posting the steamy snaps, with one fan taking to the comments section writing: 'God doesn't she love herself', with Vicky promptly hitting back: 'And what gave you that impression?! Or can you just not stand to see a confident woman?' She then shared two throwback snaps and revealed it has taken her years to get to the happy place she is at now and to 'finally feel comfortable in my own skin'. She wrote: 'After years of hating what I saw in the mirror.. being told I was 'fat' or being offered 'shape up' features in mags, or being criticised for being too small, always being convinced I just was worth nothing more than a number on a scale.. it is a monumental moment for me, or any women when she gets to say - I'm actually content. 'Now don't get me wrong, this didn't happen overnight. It took years of fad diets, weaponising exercise, counting berries & never ordering what I wanted off a menu to get here. 'I decided there had to be more to life.. or at least I wanted more anyway. I grew up, I fell in love with a nice man who has loved me at a number of different sizes & shapes over the years & I embraced balance. However one fan took to the comments writing, 'God doesn't she love herself', prompting Vicky to hit back, 'And what gave you that impression?! Or can you just not stand to see a confident woman?' 'I know my body will look a bit different at the end of this holiday & that's ok.. because I enjoyed myself- I ate nice things with my husband & drank cocktails & I LIVED! 'I'm finally comfortable in my own skin.' Vicky told her 5.5million fans that they should be able to post whatever they want and despite not always feeling confident on the 'rare days' she does she's going to enjoy it and not let others ruin that. She continued: 'I'm not saying I'm confident all the time (Christ in a cardigan who is?!) In fact sometimes I'm downright crippled by insecurity & pulling every bit of myself apart. 'I stare in the mirror & tell myself my nose is too big, I'm starting to look old & that I have no arse & no matter how hard we try as women to be positive, embrace who we are & silence that nasty inner critic. They're always there. Nagging away at our happiness. 'So on those rare days when I wake up & I feel quite good about myself.. there is not a chance in hell I'm going to let some silly little man change that. 'Because let's have it right, this isn't about me 'loving myself', it isn't about any woman 'loving herself'- which we should all try to do more of by the way- this is about how a secure & confident woman can make CERTAIN men feel. It makes them feel small, intimidated.. it makes them feel less. But who gives a f***' The TV personality concluded by telling fans to 'love yourself' and enjoy sharing photos no matter what others say. Vicky told her fans that they should be able to post whatever they want and despite not always feeling confident on the 'rare days' she does she's going to enjoy it and not let others ruin that She added: 'So continue to take up space, post your glam pics, your posey holiday snaps, nights out with the girls- whatever it is! Because learning to like yourself, let alone even love yourself after a lifetime of conditioning yourself otherwise is hard & you deserve to! 'In a society that thrives on us hating ourselves.. do something rebellious & love yourself'. Fans took to the comments to praise the reality stars wise words as many said 'isn't loving yourself what it is all about'. They wrote: 'And isn't that the goal - to love ourselves???; Like loving ourself is a bad thing!! It's the goal! Bloody shout it from the rooftops when we get there! I am; 'Take up space babe. This is the heart of it it's ANARCHY XXX; being content & happy is what everyone deserves to feel xx; 'Always love yourself you are beautiful inside out; So worthy!; AND???? Why can't we; If you don't love yourself, how can others ? X'.
