By Shenalyn Page
“And Jesus… said to them, ‘Take heed that no one deceives you’” (Matthew 24:4).
Have you heard of deepfakes?
A deepfake is an image, audio, or video of a real person seemingly doing or saying things they never did or said.
How is that possible? Deepfake creators feed real photos, audio, or video into an artificial intelligence (AI) computer capable of learning the individual’s unique features in the raw data. Then, the creator manipulates the data to
create something that never happened—AI magic.
This deepfake video of soccer star David Beckham makes it look like he speaks nine languages. The reality? He speaks only one—English.
How to Recognize Online Deception
AI fakes are here to stay. Some of them don’t matter much, like the deepfake photo of
Pope Francis in a white puffer jacket (notice the odd way he is holding a water bottle in his right hand).
Other deepfakes can have much more severe consequences, like the deepfake video of
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy purportedly telling his troops to surrender. There are
sinister elements in our world who have a vested interest in deceiving you into thinking the way they want you to.
So, how can you tell the difference between the true and the fake online? A few basic rules can help:
- Pay Attention to the Source: Does the website, person, or media source have a reputation for honesty or falsehood? If they have been inaccurate in the past, proceed with caution.
- Look for Inconsistencies: The little oddities, like strange lighting or hand gestures that don’t look right, can help you recognize a deepfake.
- Do Some Research: Take the time to double-check things. Google stuff. Ask people you trust. Read real books. Go to the library.
- Be Skeptical: This is the most essential point. Keep in mind that not everything you see online is real. This will help you be more discerning about what you believe.
Yet even with the best attention to detail, you and I will still be led to perceive some deepfakes as being genuine. Our brains are wired for efficiency and will often “fill in the blanks” for us when we receive certain sensory
inputs—images, sounds, etc.—and fail to spot small inconsistencies or errors. (Think of how eyewitnesses can see the same crime yet report different facts.)
That is why Jesus cautioned those of us who live in the last days, “Take heed that no one deceives you’” (Matthew 24:4). We must be on guard against deception in every form.
Spiritual Deepfakes
Did you know that AI and deepfakes have infiltrated the Christian faith?
Apps like Text with Jesus claim to allow you to have a “personal conversation” with Jesus through AI. While these apps have been “trained” with the written text of the Bible, they are only as good as the algorithms programmed into them
by the designers, who may have spiritual biases or their own “private interpretations” (2 Peter 1:20, 21) about important doctrines. What if the answers the app gives twist the teachings of the Bible to suggest things that God never
intended? What if they make Jesus say something He never would have said?
Knowing the truth about God is critical. Believing the wrong thing—we might call them spiritual deepfakes—about God and His ways can cost us our eternal life.
Satan is the master of deception. Jesus tells us that “there is no truth in [the devil]. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). He has countless schemes to deceive us
into believing incorrect things about God. AI just might be one of his avenues of deception.
How to Recognize Spiritual Truth
The ability to recognize spiritual truth is the most essential skill you can develop today. AI can’t help you here. Instead, you’ll need the clarity that comes from:
- Bible Study: Read the actual Bible—all of it. Study what it says and compare everything the Bible says on one topic before you reach your conclusions. Knowing the Bible for yourself is the best
safeguard you can have against spiritual deepfakes. See 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
- The Guidance of the Holy Spirit: Every time you study the Bible, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you into an accurate understanding of the truth. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He
will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
Knowing God’s truth has the power to change your life completely. We have it on Jesus’ word. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32).
Want to learn how to study the Bible for yourself? Check out these resources: