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Deep Fake
An image of a Audrey Hepburn after its been modified by AI software.

Become a Deepfake Pro: Step-by-step

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I. Introduction

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You've probably heard the term "deepfake recently. These eerily realistic manipulations of audio and video have taken the internet by storm, making people question what is real and what is not. Are you eager to learn how to create them? You're in the right place!

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II. Basics of Deep Learning

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Before you jump into deepfakes, you need a solid understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning. Think of it like learning to bake; you need to understand the ingredients and the process before creating your first cake.

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AI is like your oven, ML is your recipe, and deep learning is the precise mixing and baking technique that leads to a delicious result. Neural Networks? Those are your friendly kitchen gadgets that help you along the way. 

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III. Diving Deeper into Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)

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One gadget that is key to deepfake creation is the Generative Adversarial Network, or GAN. It’s like a cooking contest with two chefs (the Generator and the Discriminator), each trying to outdo the other, and in the process, they create something fantastic! These advanced AI algorithms can create photorealistic images and videos, opening up exciting opportunities for content creators. For instance, AI-generated deep fakes have taken the internet by storm, enabling filmmakers to resurrect deceased actors, age or de-age characters, and even swap faces in real time.

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IV. Familiarization with Deepfake Technology

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Next, let's look at the kitchen where you'll be cooking up your deepfakes: the software and tools. When I created my first deepfake, I was amazed at the range of tools available. Some popular ones include DeepFaceLab and Faceswap.

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V. Practical Steps to Create Your First Deepfake

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Alright, time to get your hands dirty. The process is like making a movie, starting with gathering your cast (data), shooting scenes (training the model), post-production (generating the deepfake), and finally, the premiere (evaluation).

VIDeep Fake Software Tools:

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Deepfakes Web is a service that lets you create deepfake videos on the web. It uses Deep Learning to absorb the various complexities of face data. It can take up to 4 hours to learn and train from video and images, whereas it takes another 30 minutes to swap the faces using the trained model. The free version will output the deepfake video in around 5 hours, whereas the premium version will spit out the video in just 1 hour.

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Reface AI is the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) behind the scenes. To use the app, all you need to do is capture your photo and then choose the GIF that you want to use. It will superimpose your face on the GIF. It doesn’t work perfectly, and the face superimposition will depend on the symmetry of your face and the GIF you are using. That said, there are so many gifs on the internet that you will always have options. This can be your personalized GIF maker app that you can use to impress your friends.

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MyHeritage developed an app Deep Nostalgia that feature gained popularity among social media users as it lets you animate old photos. To use the service, all you have to do is upload an image and press the animate button. In a few seconds, you get an animated version of the image with the face, eyes, and mouth moving like it’s straight out of The Daily Prophet magical newspaper from Harry Potter.

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DeepFaceLab is a Windows program that allows you to create deepfake videos. It’s primarily built for researchers and students of computer vision. However, if you want to learn about deepfake videos, you can definitely try out this tool. It uses machine learning and human image synthesis to replace faces in videos. Since DeepFaceLab is an advanced tool mostly for researchers, the interface is not user-friendly, and you will have to learn its usage from the documentation. Again, it goes without saying that you need a powerful PC with a dedicated high-end GPU. Simply put, if you are a student specializing in computer vision.

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Lensa AI is not exactly deepfake in the sense that it will put your face on other people’s bodies or in videos. However, it has the insanely cool ability to create photorealistic portraits of yours from a few selfies. What’s more, the app creates portraits in multiple styles, including superheroes, anime, and more. Though the app is free to use for general purposes, if you’re trying to make portraits, you will have to pay for each set or subscribe to the app’s premium version. 

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VII. Advanced Techniques in Deepfake Creation

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Once you've created your first deepfake, it's time to enhance your skills. Remember when I said earlier about fine-tuning? That's where this comes in. It’s like adding those perfect final touches to your cake, ensuring it’s not just good, but great!

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VIII. How to Improve Your Deepfake Skills

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The world of deepfakes is always evolving. Just like I always keep exploring new baking techniques and recipes, you should stay updated with the latest in AI and deepfake technology. Join forums, enroll in advanced courses, and always keep learning.

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IX. Ethical Considerations and Legal Implications of Deepfakes

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With great power comes great responsibility. Deepfakes can be used for fantastic applications, but they can also be misused. I always consider the ethical implications of my work, and you should too. Stick to the good side of the force!

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