Doctored images have been around for decades. The term "Photoshopped" is part of everyday language. But in recent years, it has seemingly been replaced by a new word: deepfake. It's almost everywhere online, but you likely won't find it in your dictionary at home. What exactly is a deepfake, and how does the technology work? RELATED STORY | Scripps News Reports: Sex, Lies, and Deepfakes A deepfake is an image or video that has been generated by artificial intelligence to look real. Most deepfakes use a type of AI called a "diffusion model." In a nutshell, a diffusion model creates content by stripping away noise. "With diffusion models, they found a very clever way of taking an image and then constructing that procedure to go from here to there," said Lucas Hansen said. He and Siddharth Hiregowdara are cofounders of CivAI, a nonprofit educating the public on the potential — and dangers — of AI. How diffusion models work It can get complicated, so imagine the AI – or diffusion model – as a detective trying to catch a suspect. Like a detective, it relies on its experience and training. It recalls a previous case -– a sneaky cat on the run. Every day it added more and more disguises. On Monday, no disguise. Tuesday, it put on a little wig. Wednesday, it added some jewelry. By Sunday, it's unrecognizable and wearing a cheeseburger mask. The detective learned these changes can tell you what it wore and on what day. AI diffusion models do something similar with noise, learning what something looks like at each step. "The job of the diffusion model is to remove noise," Hiregowdara said. "You would give the model this picture, and then it will give you a slightly de-noised version of this picture." RELATED STORY | Scripps News got deepfaked to see how AI could impact elections When it's time to solve the case and generate a suspect, we give it a clue: the prompts we give when we create an AI-generated image. "We have been given the hint that this is supposed to look like a cat. So what catlike things can we see in here? Okay, we see this curve, maybe that's an ear," Hiregowdara said. The "detective" works backward, recalling its training. It sees a noisy image. Thanks to the clue, it is looking for a suspect — a cat. It subtracts disguises (noise) until it finds the new suspect. Case closed. Now imagine the "detective" living and solving crimes for years and years. It learns and studies everything — landscapes, objects, animals, people, anything at all. So when it needs to generate a suspect or an image, it remembers its training and creates an image. Deepfakes and faceswaps Many deepfake images and videos employ some type of face swapping technology. You've probably experienced this kind of technology already — faceswapping filters like on Snapchat, Instagram or Tiktok use technology similar to diffusion models, recognizing faces and replacing things in real time. "It will find the face in the image and then cut that out kind of, then take the face and convert it to its internal representation," Hansen said. The results are refined then repeated frame by frame. The future and becoming our own detectives As deepfakes become more and more realistic and tougher to detect, understanding how the technology works at a basic level can help us prepare for any dangers or misuse. Deepfakes have already been used to spread election disinformation, create fake explicit images of a teenager, even frame a principal with AI-created racist audio. "All the netizens on social media also have a role to play," Siwei Lyu said. Lyu is a SUNY Empire Innovation Professor at the University of Buffalo's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the director of the Media Forensics Lab. His team has created a tool to help spot deepfakes called "DeepFake-o-meter." "We do not know how to handle, how to deal, with these kinds of problems. It's very new. And also requires technical knowledge to understand some of the subtleties there," Lyu said. "The media, the government, can play a very active role to improve user awareness and education. Especially for vulnerable groups like seniors, the kids, who will start to understand the social media world and start to become exposed to AI technologies. They can easily fall for AI magic or start using AI without knowing the limits." RELATED STORY | AI voice cloning: How programs are learning to pick up on pitch and tone Both Lyu and CivAI believe in exposure and education to help combat any potential misuse of deepfake technology. "Our overall goal is that we think AI is going t impact pretty much everyone in a lot of different ways," Hansen said. "And we think that everyone should be aware of the ways that it's going to change them because it's going to impact everyone." "More than just general education — just knowing the facts and having heard what's going to happen," he added. "We want to give people a really intuitive experience of what's going on." Hansen goes on to explain CivAI's role in educating the public. "We try and make all of our demonstrations personalized as much as possible. What we're working on is making it so people can see it themselves. So they know it's real, and they feel that it's real," Hansen said. "And they can have a deep gut level feel for tthe impact that it's going to have." "A big part of the solution is essentially just going to be education and sort of cultural changes," he added. "A lot of this synthetic content is sort of like a new virus that is attacking society right now, and people need to become immune to it in some ways. They need to be more suspicious about what's real and what's not, and I think that will help a lot as well."
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Games on a college basketball schedule don't contrast much more than the two NC State has this week. The Wolfpack (6-3) host Coppin State (0-10) on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., then hit the road to challenge No. 10 Kansas on Saturday. NC State enters its unusual week after snapping a three-game skid with an 84-74 overtime win at home Saturday against Florida State in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Transfers Marcus Hill and Dontrez Styles each had their season high, scoring 23 and 21 points, respectively. They scored 13 of NC State's 14 points in overtime. "Dontrez Styles was tremendous," Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. "In the second half, he made play after play." Hill, who was the top scorer last year at Bowling Green (20.5 points per game), and Styles, who was the second-leading scorer last year at Georgetown (12.8 ppg), combined to hit 14 of 25 shots and pull down 11 rebounds. The win followed defeats to then-No. 13 Purdue and BYU, both by double-digit margins, in the Rady Children's Invitational and a 63-59 loss to Texas in the SEC/ACC Challenge. "The little things that impact the game are defending, making free throws and blocking out," Keatts said. "We handled that much better than we did against Texas." Coppin State arrives in Raleigh on a 23-game losing streak dating to January -- the longest current run of futility in Division I. Each of the Eagles' losses this season have come by double-digit margins, though they have been more competitive lately, falling to Baltimore rival Loyola (Md.) 68-57 and at Wagner 65-52 last week. Julius Ellerbe III has been one of Coppin's most reliable players lately, scoring a combined 20 points in the last two games. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to George Mason last month. Teammate Peter Oduro recorded a double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds, in last month's loss at Saint Joseph's. "These things take time," Coppin State second-year coach Larry Stewart said. "It takes time to establish your culture. It takes time to get the right players in your system." --Field Level MediaWAUKESHA, Wis. — Waukesha police now want the interview TMJ4 News reporter Rebecca Klopf did with a murder suspect. She spoke with him back in October, hours after his neighbor was discovered dead. Kevin Lychwick is now sitting in the Waukesha County jail charged with murder and hiding a corpse. When Rebecca spoke to him 6 weeks ago, after his neighbor's body was discovered back in October, that is the exact word he used when he referred to the body. “They’re talking about a corpse was found at the end of our driveway,” said Lychwick during the Oct. 31, 2024 interview. Rebecca knocked on nearly every apartment door, and while each of the neighbors told her how sad it was someone was dead, Lychwick had a different answer. “It is bizarre. It is bizarre. You wonder what is going on,” said Lychwick. Police believe Lychwick shot Carlos Maldonado, 56, in the head in April. According to investigators, he later wrapped his body in plastic, tied it with duct tape, and moved it to the area by the end of the driveway. It was discovered six months later the day before Halloween. Something Lychwick thought was shocking. “It is an extraordinary situation,” said Lychwick. In searching his apartment, police found handwritten notes that they believe were a hit list. There were six other “targets” listed. Investigators also found plans that included “interrogation sites,” “staging areas” and “disposal of rotten meat.” Police say the victim was considered a “target.” Watch: Waukesha police want the interview TMJ4 News did with an accused murderer “Mr. Maldonado was number one on his hit list,” said Captain Dan Baumann, Waukesha Police Department. And in that hit list, investigators say he had addresses, social media accounts, and birthdays. “He had grievances with some people. He was a very well detail-oriented individual. Some would say he is creepy,” said Baumann. Lychwick told Rebecca he was friendly with all his neighbors, and that he lived in a quiet building. “Something happens over there. It is just.... again, I say bizarre,” said Lychwick. “You expect to feel safe.” Lychwick is being held on a $5 million dollar cash bond. He had not yet entered a plea, but his defense attorney said she thinks his mental health should be evaluated. Waukesha police spoke with TMJ4 News on Monday and Rebecca Klopf. They plan to seek a subpoena to acquire the interview conducted with Lychwick. It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device. Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
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UL guard Kentrell Garnett (2) and the Ragin' Cajuns will have another chance to snap their losing streak against Louisiana Tech at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Cajundome. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Things didn’t get much better on the scoreboard for the UL men’s basketball team over the holiday week off. Coach Bob Marlin’s Ragin’ Cajuns lost three games in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the fell to Nicholls 76-75 on Saturday in the Cajundome. The Cajuns are 1-7 for the season for the worst start since opening 1-8 and 2-11 in Marlin’s first season at UL in 2010-11. UL’s next chance to end its six-game losing streak will actually be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday against Louisiana Tech at home. The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, but moved to not conflict with football’s 6:30 p.m. Sun Belt championship game against Marshall. Believe it or not, though, there were a few positive signs in the boxscores. Leading the way is 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore Kyran Ratliff, who has enjoyed career highs in each of his last three games. The best one came Saturday when the New Orleans native poured in 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds and two steals. “He’s really stepped up and done a nice job,” Marlin said of Ratliff. “He played better in the Virgin Islands and showed from fight against the all-conference MVP from UAB. “He’s been shooting the 3-point shot well, something he can do. He’s shooting free throws better. He’s rebounding the ball, and that’s the main thing we’re encouraged about.” Moreover, Ratliff is the only Cajun player who make more than one 3-pointer at 3-for-5 shooting behind the arc. “We certainly need it,” Marlin said. “We have trouble scoring at times. He’s a guy who can shoot the ball.” The other aspect of the losing that doesn’t add up is how few times UL had turned it over. The only game the Cajuns had more than 11 turnovers was 14 in their one win of the season. UL turned it over eight times twice, 10 and 11 in the last four losses. “We’ve really valued the basketball, taking good care of it,” Marlin said. “I saw improvement during the three games in the Virgin Islands and also saw a lot of improvement this past week.” Illness and injuries haven’t helped either. Jeremiah Evans could return for Sunday’s game after missing the Nicholls loss with a concussion. Marlin said Louisville transfer Koron Davis is currently “unavailable” and his status for future games are uncertain for a non-basketball issue. “Right now, he’s unavailable,” Marlin said of Davis. “I’m going to meet with him (Tuesday) and we’re going to make a decision on what we’re going to do moving forward. “But nothing happened in Virgin Islands, no. He played good. He played really well and had some good games. In limited minutes, he scored some points for us and that’s something he can do.” Although UL outrebounded Nicholls 35-30, it’s been difficult to find much encouragement in the rebounding or defensive areas. “The biggest issue is guarding the ball and rebounding,” Marlin said. “We’ve got to guard the ball. We did better the other day I thought.” Nicholls was only 2-fo-12 shooting from 3-point land in the first half, but drilled bombs eight times in 11 attempts in the second half. “We’ve got to get out on people and still keep them from driving to the paint and scoring,” Marlin added. In Monday’s 98-86 loss to UAB, the Blazers had 20 offensive rebounds. “They were just playing volleyball up there on the glass,” Marlin said. “Eventually, they’re going to get one in. “We’ve got to come together defensively. I think once we start making shots, I think our defense will get better and vice versa.”In the northern French city of Reims, the construction of a new house has brought an ancient home to the surface. Archaeologists discovered a domus, or luxury urban house , dating to the second century during housing construction along the Rue de la Magdeleine, according to a Dec. 4 news release from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research. Once inhabited by the Gallic tribe of the Remi , Reims was conquered by the Romans and grew into an urban center. The city was developed in the classic Roman urban planning style, archaeologists said, in which residential blocks form a grid of perpendicular streets around a city center, designed as a political and religious forum. In many cases, the outside districts are far less studied than the central areas, researchers said. The newly discovered dwelling, with a two-pillar facade facing the street, is two-thirds of a mile away from where the city center once stood. But this wasn’t just any common Roman’s home. This home was occupied by the elite. The inside of the house was buried under a destroyed layer that was likely caused by a fire, archaeologists said. In the mains, pieces of a megalography fresco were found. Megalography means the figures painted on the surface are represented in their real size, researchers said. Two fresco pieces have the painted names Achilles and Deidamia, referencing the mythological scene of Achilles on Skyros, a coveted pre-Trojan War episode, archaeologists said. This is the fourth depiction of this scene found in Roman settings, including ones in Aquileia, Pompeii and Rome, according to the release. Other items found in the home, however, pointed to the social standing and financial prowess of the home’s owners, researchers said. Three intricate bronze statues were unearthed from the remains. One depicts the god Mars, a second depicts an unidentified goddess and a third statue depicts a bull, according to archaeologists. Researchers described the statues as luxurious and made with a deft touch, supporting the idea that they belonged in an elite member of society’s home. The bronze Mars’ eyes are enhanced by silver, archaeologists said, and Mars is holding a shield with a depiction of the She-Wolf, Romulus and Remus. Mars’ cuirass, or breastplate, was decorated with the head of Medusa, and the statue’s circular base has silver and copper floral decorations, researchers said. The bull sits on a rectangular base and also has a bronze body and silver eyes. The variation of the silver eyes gives the bull an expressive gaze, officials said. The woman clearly represents a goddess, archaeologists said, but her specific identification hasn’t been made. She has a helmet with a relief representing a sphinx, a face and a crown, which may represent a city, researchers said, and spots on her back look like they might have once held wings. She holds the club of Hercules wrapped by a snake and the skin of the Nemean Lion. Officials say the odd aggregation of different representations has a mysterious meaning. The statues’ quality reaffirms their value, though researchers said the location of the home, so far from the city center, does raise questions as to the wealthy homeowner’s status in the community and the function of their home. Reims is in northeastern France, about a 90-mile drive northeast from Paris. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
It’s called “Fart on Contact”, and Tesla drivers will soon be able to enact the feature in their vehicle. It might smell a little fishy, but it’s not April 1, and so we have to take the EV giant at its word. As part of its 2024 Holiday Update, Tesla has revealed “Fart on Contact”, which allows users to set off whoopee cushion–style fart sounds from any seat (see top image). A mocked up screen on X shows the heading “Emissions” and invites users to “Play a gassy prank from any seat”. The options are “I’m so random”, “Fart on demand”, “Fart on Turn Signal” and “Fart on Contact”. The latter is subtitled “Sit happens”. Meanwhile, Tesla’s 2024 Holiday Update – which starts as a free over-the-air update next week – will allow people to use the Tesla app on an Apple Watch as a phone key. “You can also view battery charge, open frunk & turn on climate control,” Tesla said in a post on X. For the uninitiated, the frunk is the front trunk. Tesla update – new design options. Another update means that when in reverse, “your vehicle will alert you if it detects a pedestrian or vehicle crossing behind you. An audible warning will also play if a potential collision is detected”. New Cybertruck custom wraps and licence plate customisation allow you to customise your truck’s avatar with one of the preloaded designs, or create and upload custom ones using a USB flash drive. Some of the other updates include: Watch Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips directly from the Tesla app and save them to your phone to edit or share; Set Arrival Energy at Destination; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Precipitation Map & Weather at Destination; Schedule Light Show from Tesla App; View and track maintenance items from your vehicle’s touchscreen; The new Seats control panel allows you to adjust the position of the unoccupied passenger seat, including second-row seats, and; The game Boomerang Fu.
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Motorists could soon be seeing a new feature on the NSW roads — glow-in-the-dark line markings. The state government this week will install glow-in-the-dark markings on Bulli Pass, south of Sydney, for a trial ahead of a potential wider rollout. Similar to glow-in-the-dark children’s toys and stickers, photoluminescent painted markings absorb and store sunlight during the day and glow at night, helping drivers better see line markings and the shape of the road ahead in locations where street lighting is not practical. The hairpin turn on Bulli Pass has been selected for the first trial after a spike in near misses at night. The steep descent, which is heavily used by large trucks and motorcycles, recorded 125 incidents between 9pm and 4am in the year to June 30. “Bulli Pass has had a rising number of near misses — particularly at night — so using Glow Roads to improve driving conditions will help the thousands of motorists who rely on this busy route,” NSW Roads Minister John Graham said in a statement on Sunday. “Being able to see the shape of the road ahead is critical to safe driving and that’s what Glow Roads do. Data shows around a third of fatal crashes in NSW happen at night. If this trial is deemed a success, we will look at its application on other locations with a history of crashes or near-misses where better visibility is needed.” The trial will run for six months, after which data and customer feedback will be reviewed to determine whether to extend the trial or extend the technology to other parts of the state. “Glow Roads is an exciting new alternative for areas where street lighting may not be practical — many of our regional and rural roads face this challenge,” Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said. “Locals know this road — and others like it across the state — can have visibility plummet in seconds when fog or a storm rolls in, and I’m excited to see how this innovation performs in those conditions, too. This initiative offers an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution on regional roads with limited or non-existent street lighting.” NSW Transport conducted rigorous testing at its Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre in Cudal to ensure the glow-in-the-dark markings were suitable for all Australian conditions. A car, truck, motorbike and bicycle were put through their paces navigating the course, and skid testing was also undertaken to ensure ‘glow roads’ have the same level of slip resistance as current line markings. “The Glow Roads is the brainchild of one of our transformation teams here at Transport who — trying to find a solution to boost safety at remote or isolated sites — pitched the idea at an in-house innovation challenge,” Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said. “Improving road safety is a massive priority for everyone across at Transport — so we jumped on the opportunity to put this bright idea to the test.” Victoria tested similar glow-in-the-dark markings in 2022 but ultimately did not move foward with a broader rollout. Five rural roads, including a one-kilometre stretch of Metong Road in Victoria’s southeast, were illuminated under the trial, conducted by Gippsland company Tarmac Linemarking in collaboration with OmniGrip and VicRoads. Tarmac Linemarking’s John Emanuelli said at the time he had been swamped by businesses and councils looking to have their paths illuminated. “There’s been a lot of interest since the trial run, it’s a great product,” he said. Photos from the Victorian test run went viral after being shared on Reddit. “This feels like Tron and I’m for it,” one user wrote. An indepdendent evaluation of the trial conducted for Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning concluded there were insufficient road safety benefits to justify rolling out photoluminescent line markings on more roads. Unlike NSW’s trial, however, Victoria’s did not include very low-speed environments such as tight curves on high-speed roads.