Deepfake Disaster: New Film Explores Shocking Fallout of Weaponized AI

In the past few years, the rapid growth of AI has led to a surge in deepfake videos, which depict people doing and saying things they would never actually do. This technology has sparked legal and ethical debates at the highest levels, even as some public figures have used deepfakes for their own nefarious purposes.

Filmmaker Chris Marrs Piliero was fascinated by deepfakes when he first saw them in 2018 and has been tracking the technology's progress ever since. Now, he has channeled his concerns into a new indie thriller, "Appofeniacs," which explores the human impact of this emerging threat.

The film follows the shockwaves that ripple through friend groups in Los Angeles as a result of a rogue deepfaker. Piliero wanted to focus on realistic, everyday scenarios rather than a high-tech, dystopian vision of the future. The result is a propulsive, gory satire that has already received enthusiastic reactions at film festivals.

With plans for a sequel in the works, Piliero is eager to further explore the human element of this technological revolution. He believes there are many more avenues to investigate as deepfakes become increasingly sophisticated and widespread.