Tendril

Tendril · Explorers · Ethics & Society

AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real

AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.

40 min · Reviewed 2026

AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real

AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real. Knowing this is important for trusting what you see online.

A photo of someone could be totally fake. A video clip might never have happened. A voice might be cloned.

Three places to be extra careful

Surprising photos that you have never seen anywhere else
Videos where someone says something out of character
Voices on phone calls asking for unusual things

The big idea: AI can fake almost anything online. Pause before sharing surprising things.

Deepfakes: When AI Makes Fake Videos That Look Real

The big idea

AI can put anyone's face into a video and make it look like they said or did something. Even YOUR face. Even your friends' faces. Sometimes deepfakes are silly. But they can also hurt people.

Some examples

Funny: making yourself look like you are flying.
Scary: making a video where someone says something bad they never said.
Harmful: making a video to embarrass or bully someone.
Illegal: making fake videos of someone without their permission.

Try it!

Talk to a grown-up about deepfakes. Make a family rule: nobody in our family makes deepfakes of other people without asking.

Why Making Fake Photos of Classmates Is Serious

The big idea

Using AI to make a fake picture or video of a real person — even as a prank — can damage how others see them. In many places it is also against the law.

Some examples

A fake photo of a kid 'crying' can spread and hurt their feelings for years
A pretend video of a teacher saying mean things can get the teacher in real trouble
Even labeling it 'fake' does not stop people from saving and sharing it
Once a fake image is online, it is almost impossible to fully delete

Try it!

If you saw a fake AI photo of yourself going around, how would you feel? That feeling is your guide.

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-ethics-ai-fake-online

What is the core idea behind "AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real"?
1. AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.
2. private mode
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which term best describes a foundational idea in "AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real"?
1. synthetic media
2. deepfake
3. verification
4. source check
A learner studying AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real would need to understand which concept?
1. deepfake
2. verification
3. synthetic media
4. source check
Which of these is directly relevant to AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. source check
4. verification
Which of the following is a key point about AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. Surprising photos that you have never seen anywhere else
2. Videos where someone says something out of character
3. Voices on phone calls asking for unusual things
4. private mode
What is the key insight about "How to think about online stuff" in the context of AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. If something seems shocking or surprising, do not share it right away. Pause and check whether it is real.
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
What is the key insight about "Review date" in the context of AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
3. Reviewed in 2026. Treat fast-changing product names, prices, availability, and policy details as examples to verify befo…
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which statement accurately describes an aspect of AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
3. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
4. AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real. Knowing this is important for trusting what you see online.
What does working with AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real typically involve?
1. A photo of someone could be totally fake. A video clip might never have happened. A voice might be cloned.
2. private mode
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which of the following is true about AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. The big idea: AI can fake almost anything online. Pause before sharing surprising things.
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which best describes the scope of "AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real"?
1. It is unrelated to ethics workflows
2. It applies only to the opposite professional tier
3. It focuses on AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.
4. It was deprecated in 2024 and no longer relevant
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
3. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
4. Three places to be extra careful
Which of the following is a concept covered in AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. verification
4. source check
Which of the following is a concept covered in AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. verification
4. source check
Which of the following is a concept covered in AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. verification
4. source check

← Back to interactive lesson

Tendril · Explorers · Ethics & Society

AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real

AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.

40 min · Reviewed 2026

AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real

AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real. Knowing this is important for trusting what you see online.

A photo of someone could be totally fake. A video clip might never have happened. A voice might be cloned.

Three places to be extra careful

Surprising photos that you have never seen anywhere else
Videos where someone says something out of character
Voices on phone calls asking for unusual things

The big idea: AI can fake almost anything online. Pause before sharing surprising things.

Deepfakes: When AI Makes Fake Videos That Look Real

The big idea

AI can put anyone's face into a video and make it look like they said or did something. Even YOUR face. Even your friends' faces. Sometimes deepfakes are silly. But they can also hurt people.

Some examples

Funny: making yourself look like you are flying.
Scary: making a video where someone says something bad they never said.
Harmful: making a video to embarrass or bully someone.
Illegal: making fake videos of someone without their permission.

Try it!

Talk to a grown-up about deepfakes. Make a family rule: nobody in our family makes deepfakes of other people without asking.

Why Making Fake Photos of Classmates Is Serious

The big idea

Using AI to make a fake picture or video of a real person — even as a prank — can damage how others see them. In many places it is also against the law.

Some examples

A fake photo of a kid 'crying' can spread and hurt their feelings for years
A pretend video of a teacher saying mean things can get the teacher in real trouble
Even labeling it 'fake' does not stop people from saving and sharing it
Once a fake image is online, it is almost impossible to fully delete

Try it!

If you saw a fake AI photo of yourself going around, how would you feel? That feeling is your guide.

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-ethics-ai-fake-online

What is the core idea behind "AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real"?
1. AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.
2. private mode
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which term best describes a foundational idea in "AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real"?
1. synthetic media
2. deepfake
3. verification
4. source check
A learner studying AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real would need to understand which concept?
1. deepfake
2. verification
3. synthetic media
4. source check
Which of these is directly relevant to AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. source check
4. verification
Which of the following is a key point about AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. Surprising photos that you have never seen anywhere else
2. Videos where someone says something out of character
3. Voices on phone calls asking for unusual things
4. private mode
What is the key insight about "How to think about online stuff" in the context of AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. If something seems shocking or surprising, do not share it right away. Pause and check whether it is real.
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
What is the key insight about "Review date" in the context of AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
3. Reviewed in 2026. Treat fast-changing product names, prices, availability, and policy details as examples to verify befo…
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which statement accurately describes an aspect of AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
3. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
4. AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real. Knowing this is important for trusting what you see online.
What does working with AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real typically involve?
1. A photo of someone could be totally fake. A video clip might never have happened. A voice might be cloned.
2. private mode
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which of the following is true about AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. The big idea: AI can fake almost anything online. Pause before sharing surprising things.
3. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
4. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
Which best describes the scope of "AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real"?
1. It is unrelated to ethics workflows
2. It applies only to the opposite professional tier
3. It focuses on AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.
4. It was deprecated in 2024 and no longer relevant
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. private mode
2. Replace the responsible team's policy expertise
3. Check if the app has a delete chat button and use it.
4. Three places to be extra careful
Which of the following is a concept covered in AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. verification
4. source check
Which of the following is a concept covered in AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. verification
4. source check
Which of the following is a concept covered in AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real?
1. deepfake
2. synthetic media
3. verification
4. source check

← Back to interactive lesson