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Deepfakes and Higher Education: A Research Agenda and Scoping Review of Synthetic Media

Project Overview

The document explores the role of generative AI, particularly deepfakes, in higher education, underscoring both the challenges and opportunities these technologies present. It emphasizes the necessity for educational institutions to devise strategies to mitigate the risks associated with deepfakes, such as threats to academic integrity and institutional reputation. The paper reviews existing literature, identifying key trends in detection methods, malicious applications, and potential positive uses of deepfakes in educational contexts. It proposes a research agenda aimed at further investigating the implications of deepfakes on the educational landscape, while also highlighting the ethical considerations that arise from their use in teaching. Overall, the document advocates for a balanced approach to generative AI in education, seeking to harness its benefits while managing its risks effectively.

Key Applications

Deepfake technology for immersive and personalized educational experiences

Context: Higher education institutions, tourism education, targeting students, educators, museum visitors, and general audiences seeking enhanced learning experiences.

Implementation: Utilizing deepfake technology to create synthetic videos featuring avatars of educators, guest experts, or historical figures. This includes personalized presentations and immersive narratives that engage learners with complex subjects or artistic works.

Outcomes: ['Enhanced engagement and understanding of complex subjects through interactive and immersive experiences.', 'Increased accessibility and personalized interaction in educational content.', 'Engaging museum visitors by allowing them to learn directly from simulated versions of historical figures.']

Challenges: ['Ethical considerations regarding authenticity and student perceptions of AI-generated content.', 'Concerns over the credibility of AI-generated content and the need for transparency in its use.', "Potential ethical issues related to using a deceased individual's likeness without consent."]

Implementation Barriers

Ethical

Concerns regarding the authenticity and potential deception of AI-generated content.

Proposed Solutions: Developing strict ethical guidelines for the use of synthetic media in education.

Technical

The challenge of reliably detecting deepfakes and distinguishing them from genuine content.

Proposed Solutions: Investing in research on detection technologies and educating stakeholders on identifying deepfakes.

Reputational

The potential for deepfakes to damage the reputation and trustworthiness of educational institutions.

Proposed Solutions: Implementing crisis management strategies and proactive communication plans to mitigate reputational risks.

Project Team

Jasper Roe

Researcher

Mike Perkins

Researcher

Contact Information

For information about the paper, please contact the authors.

Authors: Jasper Roe, Mike Perkins

Source Publication: View Original PaperLink opens in a new window

Project Contact: Dr. Jianhua Yang

LLM Model Version: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Analysis Provider: Openai

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