Securing Our Future

SOF 019: Understanding the Generative AI Landscape with Ben Colman and Reality Defender

New North Ventures Season 1 Episode 19

Host Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with sit down with Ben Colman, the founder of Reality Defender, a trailblazing company in the field of deepfake detection. 

With a rich background spanning 15 years in scaling companies at the intersection of privacy, AI, and cybersecurity, Ben brings a wealth of experience to the discussion. As the former leader of cyber commercialization at Goldman Sachs and a graduate intern at Google, Ben shares his journey and delves into the core focus of Reality Defender—utilizing generative AI to detect manipulated or fake content across various mediums like audio, video, images, and text.

The engaging conversation explores the challenges encountered by startups, the imperative need for regulations in the evolving space of deepfake detection, and real-world instances where misinformation has had profound consequences. Ethical considerations surrounding the use of generative AI take center stage, as Ben provides valuable insights into both the capabilities and limitations of their technology. The episode concludes with a reflection on Ben's role as a CEO and the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity landscape, leaving listeners with a deeper understanding of the critical role played by innovative solutions in safeguarding against the risks of manipulated media.

0:00

Introduction

0:54

Welcome

3:18

First Beginnings

5:19

Misinformation and the Veracity of Content

13:36

Really Good Fakes

17:37

Preparing Companies

20:52

Advice

23:18

Outro