Deepfake videos are an impressive demonstration of how AI can mimic real people, but the technology is too often used to trick people into thinking they’re seeing and hearing a real person — especially celebrities. It’s a cybersecurity issue, which is why McAfee has partnered with Lenovo to bring its Deepfake Detector exclusively to Lenovo AI PCs. As the name suggests, McAfee’s Deepfake Detector detects and flags deepfake videos — the kind of videos that have scammed people out of their money — more than half a million dollars in some extreme cases.
McAfee has been developing ways to limit deepfake-driven scams for a few years now, but Deepfake Detector takes that effort to a new level. The tool was trained on around 200,000 video samples to teach it how to accurately identify AI-generated or altered audio. It runs in the background like most antivirus programs, scanning video content playing both online and locally. If it detects a deepfake, it alerts the user and lets them decide what to do about it.
“Knowledge is power, and this has never been more true than in the AI-driven world we live in today,” said Roma Majumder, Senior Vice President of Product at McAfee. “You no longer need to wonder if this Warren Buffet investment scheme is legitimate, if Taylor Swift really wants to give away kitchen utensils to her followers, or if a politician really said these words. The answers are provided to you automatically and in a matter of seconds with McAfee Deepfake Detector.”
The drama of deepfake detection
The Deepfake Detector is specifically designed to work on select Lenovo AI PCs because they’re built with a neural processing unit (NPU) that enhances the device’s AI capabilities. The computer can monitor and label a video as a deepfake without needing to upload data to the cloud. All analysis remains on the device, which is a plus for more privacy-conscious PC users. The Deepfake Detector is now available on select Lenovo AI PCs in the US, UK, and Australia. A new purchase of a Lenovo AI PC comes with a 30-day free trial, with subscriptions starting at $10 per year afterward.
However, those interested in purchasing a Lenovo AI PC with the Deepfake Detector will have to check who made the NPU. Earlier this year, McAfee announced that the Deepfake Detector would be exclusive to certain Intel chips with NPUs, but it’s unclear whether the exclusivity deal with Lenovo removes that limit. Lenovo’s AI PC portfolio includes computers with NPUs made by chipmakers other than Intel, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. We’ve reached out to McAfee and Lenovo to find out, and will let you know when we know more.
“At McAfee, we are inspired by the transformative potential of AI and are committed to helping shape a future where AI is used for good. The collaboration with Lenovo increases our ability to deliver the most effective, automated, AI-powered deepfake detection, giving people a powerful digital guardian on their PCs,” said Majumder.
Even if you don’t have the right Lenovo model, you can still check if a video is a deepfake with the new McAfee Smart AI Hub at McAfee.ai. The website is designed to educate consumers about AI-powered scams, including deepfakes. But it’s not just reading material. Visitors can submit videos for analysis to find out if it’s a deepfake scam, and McAfee will use them to further improve educational content and tailor its defense software.
