The 7 Best Deepfake Books Available Today
Are you looking to learn more about the world behind deepfake videos? We compiled some of the best deepfake books for you on the market, so you can start learning about the emerging technology.
The books cover topics ranging from global disinformation, machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and all the other interesting topics that orbit the world of deepfake technology.
After you’ve read them all, the potential impact of deepfakes will no longer be a mystery to you. These books will provide a deep insight into the near- and distant future of deepfakes, their many applications, as well as potential dangers. Do make sure to let us know which one is your personal favorite!
1. Information Wars – Richard Stengel
If there was ever a book that gives insight into a government’s struggle with a disinformation campaign, it’s probably Information Wars. This gripping insider’s account of the fight against misinformation on a governmental level provides the reader with a realistic insight into online communication threads.
With Russian disinformation on the rise, the US government struggles to find a middle ground between freedom of speech and fighting internet troll farms. A topic that is more relevant than ever in the context of deepfake technology.
Stengel takes a double perspective in this book. He goes on to explain what governments (with the US government as a prime example) should do to survive and thrive in a world of disinformation. His razor sharp insights do not shy away from the hurdles of recent global events either. On the other side, Stengel provides a clear-cut blueprint for remedy and change, which could guide governments in a time of social and political turmoil.
A perfect starting point into your deepfake journey, as it paints the perfect picture of the state of affairs, and the possible directions to take. As the tools of disinformation agents grow with the emergence of AI and ‘fake news’ video productions, contexts like these matter most.
Get the book “Information Wars: How We Lost The Global Battle Against Disinformation And What We Can Do About It” by author Richard Stengel here on Amazon.
2. Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse – Nina Schick
With the context of a global disinformation in mind, the reader can start to take its first steps into the realm of deepfakes. What better place to start than Nina Schick’s book titled “Deepfakes”. In this book, the dangers, possibilities, and changes in relation to the unprecedented technology are explained extensively.
Imagine a world in which you won’t be able to tell what information is real, and what isn’t. Is that piece on the television a fabrication, or did it actually happen? Asking yourself questions like these might seem far-feteched in today’s day and age, but with the rise of deepfake videos they will become the norm.
Schick calls the upcoming technology a true “infocalypse”, which basically refers to the massive crisis of disinformation the world is already in, but will experience even stronger in the near future. Describing all broader aspects of deepfake tech, without getting too technical, the book is a great place for beginners to get familiar with the world of machine learning algorithms, AI, and realistic but totally falsified media content.
You can find the book “Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse” by author Nina Schick here on Amazon.
3. This Is Not Propaganda – Peter Pomerantsev
Truth is a weapon, and the political world loves to play with it. Learn how your perception of truth is shaped by disinformation, opinions from the masses, and more. Pomerantsev takes us on a deep-dive in the world of half-truths and straight-up fake news for the ‘cause’.
Moving between a Twitter revolutionary and propaganda machines created by the Russian secret service (KGB), the world of modern propaganda is extensively explored.
As a Russian under repression himself, Pomerantsev finds himself, once again, taking a deep dive into the Russian re-emergence of ‘opinion-shaping’. The propaganda machine is stronger than ever in the current global political world, but the author finds answers he could not have expected before his journey for answers began.
The mix between investigative journalism, personal accounts of the past, as well as an interesting exploration of the misinformation world, this book is the perfect balance to start learning about the potential impacts of deepfake technology. The book teaches how reimagining current-day politics and society is essential as reality is slowly but surely falling to pieces.
Get the book “This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures In The War Against Reality” by author Peter Pomerantsev here on Amazon.
4. The Master Algorithm – Pedro Domingos
Imagine a computer that has the potential to solve all the problems of the world for us humans. What would you do with that power? The race for the perfect self-learning algorithm is seeking to achieve exactly that.
Machine learning scientists are in a massive race for the most desired algorithm of all: the creation of the ultimate learning machine that will completely reshape the society we live in. The question remains: how will the people use this power?
The search for the Master algorithm provides readers with a spectacular beginner’s insight into the world of machine learning algorithms. What is the purpose of such algorithms and how can they impact society at scale? Answers to all of these questions (and more) are important to start learning about deepfakes as a concept. They can also give insight into how the creation of deepfakes (e.g. by scientists with bad intentions for the AI), can potentially harm us in the future.
Buy the book “The Master Algorithm: How The Quest For The Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World” by author Pedro Domingos here on Amazon.
5. The 100-Page Machine Learning Book – Andriy Burkov
The title of this book pretty much gives away the punchline, it’s a short way to read up on everything related to machine learning. Basically, it’s a compact guide on how to do data science. Despite the compact size of the book, every main topic related to machine learning is covered:
- Linear and logistic regression
- Modern support vector machines
- Deep learning
- Boosting
- Random forests
All topics covered supply the reader with clear-cut examples and provide sufficient detail to gain a good understanding of the material. While the approach might be a bit more scientific than the other books on this list, the knowledge gained from this guidebook will be valuable to many.
Despite the somewhat scientific approach, no previous knowledge is assumed. You don’t need any deeper understanding of maths, statistical analysis, or even programming. This makes it an accessible way for the masses to start understanding machine learning essentials. It can be used as a reference materials, but is brief enough that it can be read in a single sitting as well.
Feel free to purchase your own copy of “The 100-Page Machine Learning Book” by author Andriy Burkov here on Amazon.
6. The Misinformation Age – Cailin O’Connor
How do ‘alternative facts’ work in society? How do they spread and why should we even care about having true beliefs to begin with? Why do people hold on to verifiably false beliefs to the point where it becomes self-destructive behavior?
These and more questions are answered in The Misinformation Age, a book that explores the importance of social factors in the spread of alternative realities. The book argues that it is not human psychology that is the main driver of ‘fake news’, but more the interaction within the world we live in. A massively important argument for the spread of deepfake media content as well.
Whereas this book focuses on the political and societal aspects of misinformation, it is an important guide for understanding why these false beliefs spread and persist over time. It will teach the reader why deepfakes can be as effective as they are in society today.
Understanding the complicated forces behind fake news and misinformation is essential in the fight against these concepts. If we as a society want to stand any chance against the spread of deepfakes for political reasons, this is definitely the book you’d want to pick up from the shelf.
Buy your own copy of the book “The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread” by author Cailin O’Connor here on Amazon.
7. The Alignment Problem – Brian Christian
Many of the smartest and most influential thinkers agree on one thing: AI technology has the potential to get out of hand very quickly. Deepfake videos are a prime example of this, at least in the world of media and information.
What if we let data and computers think for us, and it goes haywire? A self-learning algorithm can very easily start doing things that humans cannot comprehend, thus giving the machine learning algorithms the opportunity to spiral out of the control of their original creators.
The biases created in the algorithmic iterations are explored in the Alignment Problem, which is interesting in the context of deepfake iterations required for deepfake video creation as well. The models that drive the machine learning systems can be complex, filled with human bias in its original state, and blind spots can make it weak.
All of these problems and more will make the read more than interesting for people that are trying to understand the technology behind deepfake media content. The interdisciplinary approach in this book makes it understandable in a range of different scientific fields, but doesn’t require a degree to understand it. Even beginners will thoroughly enjoy the problems that are explored in this book.
Get the book “The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning And Human Values” by author Brian Christian here on Amazon.
There Is Value In Picking Up Great Deepfake Books
We hope that you have found at least a few interesting reads in this overview. Perhaps you’re willing to take a deep-dive into all of them to get a full insight into the bigger picture behind deepfake tech. If so, we applaud your reading skills and dedication to the matter.
In a time where deepfake technology is still in the very early stages, the literature, specifically popular literature on the matter is relatively limited at this point in time. However, the books explored in this overview will give interested readers a good first insight into the material. Which one of the books on this list has been your personal favorite? Let us know in the comment section below this article. We also love to hear from you if you’re still missing some must-read deepfake books in this list. Together we can make the overview better, so make sure to share your ideas with us!
