The potential for technology has dramatically improved in recent years. We now have Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Video games are becoming more realistic. Robots are becoming more human-like. Driverless or self-driving cars are being tested. The possibilities are endless in the age of technology. However, these new developments make some question whether the benefits truly outweigh the potential for these advances to be used for something more sinister. Peyton Gregory, a mother-to-be, said, “These dangerous aspects of technology are really terrifying for parents when considering the safety of their children.” Lauren Johnson, a local high school student, said that such technologies really freak her out and she would never want to use such technology if it were offered to her.

In recent months we have been introduced to deepfakes, and voice cloning technology. Deepfake technology is used to create fake videos by taking images of a person’s face to create a moving image. Initially it was designed for film production in Hollywood. Although revolutionary, deepfakes are being used to create revenge porn, which started to surface on Reddit in 2017. Many young female actresses such as Selena Gomez, Emma Watson, and Scarlett Johannson have fallen victim to having their faces placed into these inappropriate videos. This form of technology has also plagued the lives of everyday women. Not only does it lead to fake porn and silly memes, but the creation of fake news reports and government videos. This is very dangerous to the safety of the nation, taking into consideration military and governmental use of such technologies. It could become very dangerous and even disastrous. It has the potential to lead the way to another World War if it were used strategically.

Voice cloning technology can use one’s voice to create a computerized voice avatar that is supposed to sound just like their very own and can be used to say anything that is typed into the computer. A program designed by Adobe Voco has this same concept, which was never released to the public because of these scary scenarios. However, an app available to the general public called Lyrebird can be used for those willing to share their voice. Regardless of the revolutionary aspect of these new developments, the potential for them to be used in a negative way still stands a risk if it were to land in the wrong hands.