Concordia develops a tool aimed at disputing misleading images and deceptive information
In the digital age, the spread of misinformation has become a significant concern. A team from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, is addressing this issue with the development of a new tool called SmoothDetector. This innovative technology is designed to detect fake news, and the team is currently seeking collaborators and investors to bring it to the public.
SmoothDetector employs a unique approach, combining probabilistic models and deep learning to identify misleading information. It's not just about images; SmoothDetector is capable of identifying both the source of an image and the accompanying text.
The tool has already shown promising results, having been tested on platforms X and Weibo, where it achieved 90% accurate results. However, it's important to note that applications for detecting hypertrucages, as SmoothDetector is intended, have not yet passed the reliability test in all scenarios.
For instance, an example was given of a problem with a detection application, Grok, which incorrectly identified a photo of Gaza as being from Yemen in 2016. This underscores the need for continued refinement and testing to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
The issue of fake news created by AI is also a focus of the TV series L'indétectable, which returns this fall on Radio-Canada. The creators of L'indétectable have invented a story of a politician whose career is ruined by a fake video showing her, intoxicated, insulting a taxi driver.
Radio-Canada journalist Jeff Yates, who has not yet tested SmoothDetector, mentions the credibility of the operator of the robot, which can affect its results. He also notes that the AI that protects against fakes has adapted since 2020, making it a cat and mouse game.
The scenario of L'indétectable was initially inspired by the story of a Slovak politician who lost his election in 2024 after a fake recording of him incriminating himself in electoral fraud was circulated.
The team behind SmoothDetector hopes to establish a start-up to make this tool publicly accessible. As we navigate the complex world of digital information, tools like SmoothDetector are essential in combating the spread of misinformation and ensuring the integrity of our online discourse.
