Generative AI and Deepfakes: Societal Impacts and Their Regulation

Digital disinformation and AI-generated content are transforming the way we perceive and evaluate information. In cooperation with HKA – Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and supported by the ZKM as an educational partner, the symposium “The Fabrication of Truth” provides a platform to highlight current challenges and explore new perspectives.

The symposium is part of the project “Reality Check: Fake or Fact in the Age of Generative AI”, initiated by HKA’s Institute for Intelligent Interaction and Immersive Experience and funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Its aim is to raise awareness—especially among young people—of the challenges posed by fake news, deepfakes, and digital manipulation.

The lecture begins by introducing the discussion surrounding the societal impact of generative AI and deepfakes, highlighting both the challenges and the potential of these technologies. It then examines how generative AI and deepfakes are regulated, followed by a brief assessment of whether the existing regulations are adequate to address the key challenges, and concludes with an impulse for discussion on additional measures that may still be required.