McAfee Corp, a prominent player in online security, unveiled its advanced Deepfake Audio Detection technology, named Project Mockingbird, during the Consumer Electronics Show. This innovative proprietary technology is designed to safeguard consumers from the increasing risk of cybercriminals employing AI-generated audio to execute scams, steal personal information, facilitate cyberbullying, and manipulate the public perception of influential individuals.

The growing sophistication and availability of Generative AI tools have simplified the process for cybercriminals to craft remarkably convincing scams. For instance, they may employ voice cloning to impersonate a distressed family member, soliciting funds. Another category, often referred to as 'cheap fakes,' involves the manipulation of genuine videos, such as news segments or celebrity interviews. In these instances, fake audio is seamlessly inserted to alter the spoken words, creating the illusion that a trusted or familiar figure has communicated something divergent from the original message.

Anticipating the ever-growing challenge consumers face in distinguishing real from digitally manipulated content, McAfee Labs, the innovation and threat intelligence arm at McAfee, has developed an industry-leading advanced AI model trained to detect AI-generated audio. McAfee’s Project Mockingbird technology uses a combination of AI-powered contextual, behavioral, and categorical detection models to identify whether the audio in a video is likely AI-generated. With a 90% accuracy rate currently, McAfee can detect and protect against AI content that has been created for malicious “cheapfakes” or deep fakes, providing unmatched protection capabilities to consumers.

“With McAfee’s latest AI detection capabilities, we will provide customers a tool that operates at more than 90% accuracy to help people understand their digital world and assess the likelihood of content being different than it seems", said Steve Grobman, Chief Technology Officer, McAfee. “So, much like a weather forecast indicating a 70% chance of rain helps you plan your day, our technology equips you with insights to make educated decisions about whether content is what it appears to be", he further added.

"The use cases for this AI detection technology are far-ranging and will prove invaluable to consumers amidst a rise in AI-generated scams and disinformation. With McAfee’s deepfake audio detection capabilities, we’ll be putting the power of knowing what is real or fake directly into the hands of consumers. We’ll help consumers avoid ‘cheap fake’ scams where a cloned celebrity is claiming a new limited-time giveaway, and also make sure consumers know instantaneously when watching a video about a presidential candidate, whether it’s real or AI-generated for malicious purposes. This takes protection in the age of AI to a whole new level. We aim to give users the clarity and confidence to navigate the nuances in our new AI-driven world, to protect their online privacy and identity, and well-being", continued Grobman.

Drawing from its extensive legacy of AI innovation, McAfee is set to showcase the initial public demonstrations of Project Mockingbird, its Deepfake Audio Detection technology, directly at the Consumer Electronics Show 2024. This introduction of innovative AI technology underscores McAfee's commitment to constructing a well-rounded collection of cross-platform AI models, catering to various use cases and ensuring the protection of consumers' digital experiences.