Summary

The article discusses the concept of authenticity in an AI-dominated era, reflecting on the societal implications of technology like deepfakes and the paradox of striving for genuine connections in a digital world.

Abstract

In 2023, Merriam-Webster has chosen "authentic" as the Word of the Year, highlighting society's growing concern over the blurred lines between the real and the artificial due to advancements in AI technology. The article delves into the rise of deepfakes, the pressure to present a curated self on social media, and the irony of authenticity becoming a commodified performance. It suggests that the quest for authenticity may be an antidote to the distrust sown by AI-generated content, yet it also risks becoming another manufactured trend. The piece concludes by emphasizing the importance of being at peace with one's true self and questions whether AI could eventually be tasked with discerning authenticity, despite potential trust issues and the possibility of being deceived itself.

Opinions

The author expresses unease about deepfakes, noting their potential to erode trust and questioning the reality of what is seen online.
There is a noted backlash against the curated nature of social media, with a preference emerging for spontaneous and unfiltered content as a means to achieve authenticity.
Authenticity is seen as paradoxical, as efforts to appear genuine can lead to contrived performances, especially when used as a marketing tool by brands and influencers.
The article suggests that the pursuit of authenticity is a search for meaning in a chaotic world and that while it may be co-opted, it still represents a collective yearning for truth.
The author ponders the possibility of AI systems assessing authenticity but also raises concerns about the reliability and trustworthiness of such technology.
Ultimately, the article posits that true authenticity is about self-acceptance and that it is lived rather than announced.

Everyone’s Faking It — Except Me: How Can We Stay Real in an AI-Powered World?

AI Image made by Karl Carver using Stable Diffusion

Every year, the wise elders at Merriam-Webster bestow upon us common folk their “Word of the Year.” For 2023, they’ve deemed the word “authentic” worthy of the honor.

It seems innocuous enough — just a humble little word, doing its best. But peer beneath the unassuming surface, and there’s something interesting going on here.

Why “Authentic”?

In part, this choice reflects growing concerns about how AI technology blurs the lines between real and artificial.

The dictionary reported a spike in lookups for “authentic,” driven by debates over influencer culture, social media, and identity in an increasingly high-tech world.

With deepfakes, AI chatbots, and AI imagery advancing rapidly, people seem to crave something that’s still genuine and uncompromised.

The spread of deepfakes makes me uneasy.

While the technology has its uses, seeing false videos of people saying or doing things they never actually did is disturbing. It heightens distrust and makes me question if anything I see online is real anymore.

Sure, they’re easy to spot right now.

But that won’t always be the case.

Beyond deepfakes, social media pressures us to carefully curate an image, while influencers stage experiences for the ‘gram. An inevitable backlash seeks authenticity — posting spontaneously, transparently, and without filters.

People crave real and raw over manicured perfection.

Still, authenticity risks becoming just another performance, with people chasing likes for being their ‘#trueself’.

The more we make authenticity a goal, the less attainable it may be.

Worse still, “authentic” has become the it-word for brands and influencers trying to come off as genuine and trustworthy.

The irony is that the more folks shout about being authentic, the less believable they become. The very concept of “authenticity” begins to feel manufactured.

But perhaps I shouldn’t be too harsh.

We’re all just looking for meaning in this cold, chaotic world of ours. If putting on an “authentic” face helps some poor lost soul feel a little less alone, who am I to judge?

At the end of the day, we’re all just faking it till we make it.

The question is, where do we draw the line?

When everyone’s “authenticity” becomes manufactured, how can we ever hope to connect in any real way?

Are we doomed to float through life, ships passing in the night?

I wonder if AI itself will eventually determine authenticity in this complex landscape. Imagine an algorithm that scans an image or video and assesses the likelihood it was artificially manipulated.

Or software that analyzes word patterns to distinguish man from machine, flagging machine-generated text (some of which already exists, as fallible as it may be).

Nonetheless, an “authenticity bot” could potentially out deepfakes and identify genuine human expression with high accuracy.

But could we trust AI to arbitrate real from fake?

And couldn’t such a system itself be fooled or hacked?

Final thoughts

We’d do well to remember that genuine authenticity isn’t some ideal to aspire to. It’s simply being at peace with who you are, flaws and all. The most authentic among us don’t announce it, they simply live it.

But at the very least, the quest for authenticity shows we still care about truth. If we stay true to who we are, artificiality cannot overtake reality.

Not yet, anyway.