False Realities: AI Deepfakes and Perceptions of American Prisons
Loading...
Start Date
23-4-2026 12:00 AM
Description
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an extremely complex and evolving field in modern society. This research proposal will investigate the impact that AI deepfakes have on human perception. More specifically, the impact of human perception on the American prison system. Previous research reveals deep fake technology can produce realistic content, individual behavior can be altered, and all while AI facial recognition software is becoming prevalent in the criminal justice system. Participants will be given an anonymous survey looking at prison related images. Some of which were generated by AI, others that are real images. Participants will determine multiple factors. These factors include: the expansion of existing knowledge an image has on a person, the emotional response to the image, how realistic the image was, if the image incited a need to create change, and if the participant can determine whether the image is AI generated or not. After examining the findings, this research will add to the existing literature regarding effectiveness of AI deepfakes. Additionally, this research stands to note the need for caution when using AI in fields such as the criminal justice system, political landscape, and other places where humans have the ability to be manipulated by AI deepfakes.
Recommended Citation
Northcutt, Elijah, "False Realities: AI Deepfakes and Perceptions of American Prisons" (2026). 2026 Student Academic Showcase. 20.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2026/oral_presentation/1/20
False Realities: AI Deepfakes and Perceptions of American Prisons
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an extremely complex and evolving field in modern society. This research proposal will investigate the impact that AI deepfakes have on human perception. More specifically, the impact of human perception on the American prison system. Previous research reveals deep fake technology can produce realistic content, individual behavior can be altered, and all while AI facial recognition software is becoming prevalent in the criminal justice system. Participants will be given an anonymous survey looking at prison related images. Some of which were generated by AI, others that are real images. Participants will determine multiple factors. These factors include: the expansion of existing knowledge an image has on a person, the emotional response to the image, how realistic the image was, if the image incited a need to create change, and if the participant can determine whether the image is AI generated or not. After examining the findings, this research will add to the existing literature regarding effectiveness of AI deepfakes. Additionally, this research stands to note the need for caution when using AI in fields such as the criminal justice system, political landscape, and other places where humans have the ability to be manipulated by AI deepfakes.