Presently (June 2023) there is a video trending on social media with a byline that says  “The baby cried in his sleep and made movements as if he had a tablet in his hand. These moments cause anxiety in the parents” (1)  which is gaining traction among numerous individuals associated with the youth anti-tech movement. Currently, at the time of writing this posting, the video, presumably originating from China, has garnered 25 million views, 10.4 thousand retweets, 47 thousand likes, and 2,828 comments. Many of the comments highlight that this video proves the detrimental effects of cell phones and tablets on young individuals. We decided to assess the authenticity of the video, leading us to conclude that it is possible that this video has been tampered with or altered. Consequently, we urge viewers to approach this video with the utmost suspicion. Here are some observations to support our position: When you watch the video closely and use a video viewing program to slow it down and zoom in on the pixelation, you will see clear distortion/blurring in and around the hands "only" which is not apparent anywhere else in the video, to be fair this can also be caused by the compression of the video posted, but would expect such distortion throughout the video.  However, this distortion/blurring is also consistent with a video being morphed or digitally altered. When you look at this screen shot you will see that there is a clear unnatural distortion of the right wrist. Once again, such distortion can be associated with the compression of the video or associated with a video being morphed or digitally altered Towards the end of the video, you will see that the fingers on the right-hand meld together almost as if it is a webbed hand.  Again, such distortion can be associated with the compression of the video or associated with a video being morphed or digitally altered In the last screen shot you will see that the index finger on the left hand is abnormally long and pointed when compared to the other fingers, and the face has been digitally changed. Again, such distortion is associated with a video being morphed or digitally altered. The above-noted video that has been trending on social media, showcasing a baby seemingly using a tablet while sleeping, should be approached with skepticism, and deemed suspicious. Our dig into the authenticity of the video has revealed several key pieces of concern that strongly indicate, not necessarily prove, the use of morphing/deepfake technology for mis/disinformation purposes to support a narrative. If the original video that is less compressed is made available, it could change our position on its authentication but until that time we remain suspicious. Given these findings, it is imperative to exercise caution and critical thinking when encountering content of this nature. The widespread endorsement and propagation of this video, particularly by individuals with anti-tech sentiments, highlights the potential for morphing technology to support a narrative or agenda. Here's a great article we wrote to help identify the use of morphing/deepfake technology https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/how-to-spot-a-deepfake/ As responsible digital citizens, it is crucial to remain vigilant and employ fact-checking measures before accepting and sharing online content. Morphing technology poses significant challenges to our ability to discern truth from fiction, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy education, and critical thinking in today’s onlife world. UPDATE June 26th 2023: It appears that our original posting has garnered lots of discussions, and one of the fair criticisms is that we used a poor recording to conduct our original authenticity analysis of the video.   Thanks to one specific poster on Twitter @lorgair, we were also able to locate a far better-quality “non-mirrored” or “resized” video, where we found further discrepancies (artifacts) that lead us to believe that the video may have been altered. It should be noted that the attached screenshots from this second video are magnified to assist in seeing the digital artifacts located, and therefore not as clear as the video. It should also be noted that the below-noted artifacts can easily be missed when watching the video in real-time. Pic #1: In this screen capture, you can clearly see wrinkles on the left wrist Pic #2: As the wrist starts to turn you can still clearly see the wrinkles in the left wrist Pic #3: As the wrist continues to turn you can still clearly see wrinkles in the left wrist Pic #4 When the wrist has been turned palm up, wrinkles are gone Pic #5 The skin tone of the right arm and head above the arm is a different color than the skin tone of the face below the right arm Pic #6: Different colored chin and mouth do not line up anatomically with the head above the right arm (off center and down to the left) Pic # 7 Again, different colored chin and mouth don’t line up anatomically with the head above the right arm (off center and down to the left) Pic #8 Again, different colored chin, mouth, and left eye do not line up anatomically with the head above the right arm (off center and down to the left) Pic #9 The left-hand thumb casts a clear black outline/halo as it moves behind the left side of the chin, which suggests that whatever the digital compositing process used it was not perfectly executed and could only be clearly seen when viewing frame by frame. NOTE:  It took us about 1.5 hrs to review 12 seconds of 480K video, frame by frame, to write about our above-noted observations.  Update June 27th, 2023 After the video spawned over 25 million views, tens of thousands of retweets, and 47 thousand likes from people who used it to support the "addictiveness" of technology believing it was true, the video has been taken down given its questionable authenticity. Love the fact that this article was the catalyst! Digital Food For Thought The White Hatter References:

The Speed of AI’s Evolution & The Ability For Humans to Adapt AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace Nations are racing to develop AI-powered warfare tools, from autonomous drones to AI-assisted cyberattacks AI Is Not All Bad: How Artificial Intelligence is Benefiting Society While AI poses significant risks AI-powered speech-to-text and text-to-speech applications, real-time captions, AI-driven prosthetics, responsibility that come with AI development and usage.

Beyond the Screen: How AI Agents Could Replace Cellphones and Redefine Human-Technology Interaction! Even governments are pushing the development of AI, Canada now has its own AI minister (3) In this article The screen disappears, but the AI assistant remains. Your AI agent will do that legwork for you. Right now, many AI systems are trained and operated by corporations that profit from data.

Last year we witnessed first hand teachers and school administrators using AI to draft lesson plans, Using ChatGPT, or any AI platform, responsibly is about more than avoiding risks, it’s about modelling Treat login credentials as sacred, never to be shared with AI platforms. Note:  Remember the good news, AI never needs login credentials to provide useful support. groups who are against schools using AI in any capacity.

As generative AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, the ability to manipulate voices has at The White Hatter, we were involved in supporting a family through a deeply troubling case where AI These approaches worked because AI voice synthesis models still struggled to authentically mimic the However, AI development has moved at an unprecedented pace, and in under 12 months, many of the flaws Context Test – AI Now Understands Situational Appropriateness Earlier AI-generated voices often made

CAVEAT - Following our recent article, “ A Tale of Two Schools: What Teens Taught Us About AI Use in How to Teach It: Encourage youth to use AI as a partner for self-directed learning. How to Teach It: Teach students to verify and cross-check AI-generated content. We want youth to use AI in ways that strengthen, not replace, connection. The writing might begin with AI assistance, but the message becomes their own.

about Google searches or YouTube videos, today’s youth and teens are turning to emotionally responsive AI they’ll turn to digital sources to fill in the blanks, whether it’s learning about relationships from AI No app, influencer, or AI can replace the value of a caring, involved parent, caregiver, or adult who

absolutely has its limitations, one of the most notable being the risk of “hallucinations,” where the AI This is again why digital literacy, especially when it comes to AI, is so important. of youth and teens to think critically, create boldly, and collaborate responsibly in a world where AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept. The Rise of AI-Generated Sexual Abuse Images and Deepfakes One of the most chilling uses of AI today Companionship apps like Replika and Eva AI let teens create their own AI partner, customizing looks, AI Surveillance in Schools and Homes To keep kids safe, many schools and families are turning to AI-powered AI isn’t going away.

parental control app, it’s a fully integrated digital experience guided by an intentionally designed AI At its core AngelQ is a kid-friendly AI assistant that responds to children’s questions, either through Whether answering in a pirate’s voice or transforming into a superhero, the AI makes online learning Smart and Ethical AI: A New Standard What sets AngelQ apart is its ethical and transparent design. In every case, the AI refused to engage and instead prompted a connection with a trusted adult.

searching in the traditional sense, instead they are asking (what we now call “prompting”) through AI With the growth of AI assistants, voice-activated devices, and conversational platforms, technology is When youth and teens ask AI a question, they often get a single, and what appears to be a very polished important skills youth and teens can develop in today’s digital world, especially when it comes to AI A youth or teen might type the same question into two search engines, or two separate AI platforms, and

Did you know your youth or teen’s next favorite social media platform might focus entirely on AI interactions Character.AI’s new social feed is turning private chats with AI personas into a public, TikTok or Instagram The content in your feed isn’t from real people, it’s entirely from AI generated characters. but with dynamic, evolving AI generated personalities. Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech References: 1/ https://blog.character.ai/character-ai-launches-worlds-first-ai-native-social-feed