Be wary of new software that can create so-called "deep fakes," which simulate videos of real people, experts warn.

Deep Nostalgia, released by the company MyHeritage, is trending on social media, with users reviving everyone from famous composers to deceased relatives. The software has received mixed reactions, with some people raving about the creations and others finding them creepy. The technology shows how easy it is to create videos of people doing things they've never done in real life.

“Deepfake technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous,” Aaron Lawson, assistant director of SRI International’s Speech Technology and Research (STAR) Laboratory, said in an email interview. “This is partly due to the nature of artificial intelligence. Where ‘traditional’ technology requires human time and energy to improve, AI can learn from itself.”

“But the ability of AI to evolve is a double-edged sword,” Lawson continued. “If an AI is designed to do something benign, great. But if an AI is designed to do something malicious like deep fakes, the danger is unprecedented.”