A deep fake is a synthetic media — typically video or audio — that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to create realistic but fake representations of people. Deep fakes can manipulate existing images, videos, or sounds to make it appear that someone is saying or doing something they never actually said or did.

This technology often relies on deep learning algorithms, particularly generative adversarial networks, to produce compelling results. Deep fakes are used for various purposes, including entertainment, education, and malicious activities like misinformation, fraud, or identity theft.