Center Director Speaks to KSL TV on the Growing Threat of AI Deepfakes

Chris Simpson, Director of the National University Center for Cybersecurity, appeared on KSL TV's Get Gephardt investigative segment to discuss the rapid rise of AI-generated deepfakes and the real-world consequences for everyday consumers.

The segment explored how advances in generative AI have made it easier than ever to fabricate convincing video and audio of real people — without their knowledge or consent. Simpson highlighted that high-profile athletes, including Olympic competitors, are especially vulnerable because of the volume of publicly available footage that exists of them. That footage, he explained, gives bad actors more than enough raw material to produce realistic fakes with minimal effort.

The broadcast featured a concrete example of the harm these fakes can cause: a woman purchased counterfeit weight loss pills after being deceived by a deepfake video depicting Oprah Winfrey endorsing the product. The case illustrates how deepfake technology is no longer a theoretical risk — it is already being weaponized in consumer fraud.

Simpson's message to viewers was direct: the technology is not going away. While technical and policy-based countermeasures continue to develop, healthy skepticism remains one of the most practical defenses available to the public. Before trusting a video endorsement or sharing a compelling clip, pause and verify.

Watch the Segment

Deepfakes and Team USA — KSL TV / Get Gephardt