AI, Deepfakes, and Synthetic Media: Navigating the New Reality (Spartan Spotlight)
Course | Registration opens 8/3/2026 8:00 AM EDT
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making it easy to create convincing audio, video, and images known as deepfakes. This course explains what deepfakes are and the real-world risks they pose. Topics include scams such as “deepfake kidnapping” threats, political campaign manipulation, and the potential to distort the historical record. Participants will learn how to recognize warning signs and practical steps to protect themselves in an era when seeing and hearing are no longer proof of reality.
Tamara Schwartz
Dr. Tamara Schwartz, Lt Col, USAF (ret.), is an associate professor of cybersecurity and strategy and a board member of the Cognitive Security Institute. Her thought leadership informed the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, and her work in Amman Jordan earned her the 2011 Information Ops Officer of the Year. She designed YCP’s human-centered cybersecurity program, earning her the 2025 Most Innovative Campaign to Increase Security Homeland Hero Award.