Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14

Deepfake Expert Hany Farid Plans California Exit at 60 as A.I. Erodes Trust in Video

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14

Deepfake Expert Hany Farid Plans California Exit at 60 as A.I. Erodes Trust in Video

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14

Hany Farid, 60, said six months of reviewing increasingly convincing A.I.-generated images, voices and videos have left him doubting his own eyes and planning a move from California to rural Vermont.
A viral video of a missile striking an Iranian elementary school — viewed at least 1.1 million times — captured the problem: even after frame-by-frame analysis, Farid could not quickly tell whether it showed a real attack or a fabrication.
Farid, a digital forensics specialist for more than two decades, now fields constant requests from governments, journalists, human rights groups and law enforcement trying to verify online content.
His warning is broader than one case: as anyone can now create footage of almost anything, he says A.I. is blurring reality, confusing the public and straining democratic trust.

Sources

The New York Times5h ago

Deepfake Expert Hany Farid Doubts Visual Reality, Plans California Exit Due to A.I. Content

The Washington Post5h ago

AI porn raises flags over deepfakes, consent and harassment of women - The Washington Post

San Francisco Chronicle5h ago

Can Berkeley professor Hany Farid win the war on AI deepfakes?

With laws struggling to keep up, is society prepared for a world where any video can be convincingly faked?

When the world's top expert can't trust his eyes, how can anyone else tell what is real online?

Deepfakes in 2026: Hany Farid’s Dartmouth Move, $1.6B in Losses, and the Global Race for Digital Truth

Overview

In Fall 2026, Hany Farid, a leading expert in digital forensics, will move from UC Berkeley to Dartmouth College, marking a pivotal moment in his career and the fight against deepfakes. As he approaches 60, Farid’s transition signals a strategic evolution in his efforts to combat AI-generated misinformation. Dartmouth offers new opportunities and resources that can strengthen his mission to protect digital media integrity. This move is set to further solidify Farid’s leadership in developing defenses against synthetic media, reflecting both his personal research growth and the urgent need for innovation as the deepfake crisis rapidly escalates.

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