McAfee has introduced Project Mockingbird as a powerful tool to combat the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. These deepfakes use audio to deceive consumers with fake news and other scams. The AI-powered Deepfake Audio Detection technology, known as Project Mockingbird, was unveiled at CES 2024, marking a significant move by McAfee to shield consumers from the manipulation of public perception and cybercriminal scams.
What are AI-Generated Deepfakes?
In these scams, scammers use legitimate videos with well-known speakers, such as newscasters, and manipulate the content by making the speakers say words they never actually said. Steve Grobman, CTO of McAfee, explains, “It’s deepfake, with both audio and video.” These deepfakes can easily fool people, especially when combined with other hacked material. For example, hacked data from a company like Insomniac Games could include deepfake content that is difficult to distinguish from genuine material. This poses a significant threat to consumers.
Introducing Project Mockingbird
Project Mockingbird is McAfee’s solution to detecting AI-generated deepfakes by focusing on the audio component. It analyzes the words spoken in the audio to determine if it is truly the human person or a manipulated deepfake. By leveraging AI-powered contextual, behavioral, and categorical detection models, Project Mockingbird achieves an impressive accuracy rate of over 90% in identifying and safeguarding against maliciously altered audio in videos.
“With McAfee’s deepfake audio detection capabilities, we’ll be putting the power of knowing what is real or fake directly into the hands of consumers,” says Steve Grobman, CTO of McAfee.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, as it enables consumers to navigate a landscape rife with deepfake-driven cyberbullying, misinformation, and fraudulent schemes. By providing users with clarity and confidence in discerning between genuine and manipulated content, McAfee aims to fortify online privacy, identity, and overall well-being.
The Battle Against Deepfake Audio Scams
Grobman highlights the insidious nature of deepfake audio scams compared to deepfake videos of celebrities in pornographic content, which can be avoided relatively easily. Deepfake audio tricks are more challenging to detect and are commonly found in social media posts. Grobman expresses particular concern about the upcoming 2024 U.S. Presidential election, where deepfake audio scams could be used for disinformation purposes. The surge in AI advancements has enabled cybercriminals to create deceptive content, heightening the need for tools that can distinguish real from manipulated content.
“The use cases for this AI detection technology are far-ranging and will prove invaluable to consumers amidst a rise in AI-generated scams and disinformation,” says Steve Grobman, CTO of McAfee.
Building Trust in the Digital Landscape
McAfee Labs has developed an industry-leading AI model capable of detecting AI-generated audio through Project Mockingbird, equipped with the advanced AI detection technology aimed at empowering users to understand their digital landscape. The goal is to gauge the authenticity of online content accurately. By using AI to identify micro-characteristics imperceptible to humans, McAfee’s technology provides users with essential information about whether content was generated using AI or is based on real audio or video.
“We need consumers to have a healthy skepticism that if something doesn’t look right, there is at least the possibility that it’s AI-generated or not real,” says Steve Grobman, CTO of McAfee.
McAfee’s deepfake detection technology will be integrated into products to protect users, ensuring their safety in the face of deepfake threats. The company has a longstanding history of utilizing AI to detect and prevent various cyber threats, and now it is scaling its capabilities to combat deepfakes effectively.
Maintaining Vigilance in a New Era
Grobman acknowledges the need to educate people about the ease with which deepfakes for audio and imagery can be created. McAfee aims to provide consumers with the tools and knowledge necessary to live their digital lives safely. The company emphasizes the importance of having a healthy skepticism and partnering with trusted technology providers to identify and mitigate the risk of encountering deepfakes.
