With the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and image generators, deepfakes have become more convincing and widespread. Anyone with access to a computer can replace a person’s face on-screen with another’s, or create a convincing impression of a person’s voice using speech synthesis. While these technologies may have creative and educational uses, they also raise serious ethical and safety concerns.
For young people growing up in a world of synthetic media, distinguishing between real and fake content is increasingly difficult. This challenges not only their trust in the information ecosphere and their perception of reality, but also their ability to navigate digital spaces safely. We are now seeing the first generation that cannot automatically trust what they see and hear online. While schools have long encouraged students to verify sources beyond Wikipedia, they now need to assess all digital content—including videos, images, and audio—with the same critical eye and perhaps assess whether there might be an agenda behind it.
About the workshops:
Our interactive workshops for 14- to 19-year-olds are designed to support informed, safe, and ethical interactions with AI-generated media. Over the course of two hours, participants will:
Our approach:
We use real-world case studies to spark discussion, encourage personal reflection, and build essential critical thinking skills. The workshops address key ethical challenges, including:
The workshops are developed by volunteers from We and AI, including experts in AI ethics, digital literacy, and community engagement, as well as young ambassadors—‘workshop peers’—who bring relatable and dynamic perspectives to the discussions.
Why this matters:
We believe it is crucial to equip young people with the skills to critically assess digital content, especially in an era where AI-generated media is reshaping information and communication. Encouraging independent thinking and ethical reflection is just as important as teaching technical literacy.
The students we work with are often deeply engaged with these issues—they are not only curious but also concerned about the implications of deepfakes. Many express a strong desire to understand the risks and learn how to protect themselves and others.
Some testimonials highlight the impact of the workshops:
“How deeply deepfakes affect people – shocked.”
“I did not know about political deepfakes. I found it worrying.”
“It was very informative and well explained – it was a good mix of technical and ethical.”
“It was nice how people our age were teaching us.”
Looking ahead:
We are currently rolling out these Deepfakes and Synthetic Media workshops and developing a new session on chatbot relationships. Our goal is to expand these initiatives across the UK to ensure that more students have access to this knowledge and support in developing their critical thinking skills in relation to their information ecosystem. By raising awareness and training such skills, we want to empower the youth.
Acknowledgements:
This project is led by Tania Duarte and Valena Reich, with support from the wider We and AI community. We are grateful for our brilliant Workshop Peers and proud of Elo Esalomi and Neha Adapala for their impact!
Get involved and contact us to run a workshop for your organisation for a beneficial impact in your community.