Can You Spot a Deepfake? Malaysians Share Their Thoughts on AI-Generated Content

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 AUGUST 2026 —

“Would you trust a video of a famous person promoting an investment opportunity?” The question sounds simple, until the video looks completely real and convincing. A person’s face, voice and expressions appear authentic, but the entire video could have been created or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI). This is the reality of deepfakes, where AI-generated content is becoming increasingly convincing and more difficult to distinguish from genuine information.

To better understand how Malaysians perceive these emerging challenges, MIMOS Berhad hosted the National Dialogue on Trusted Intelligence on 8 July 2026. The event brought together more than 100 participants from government, industry, academia and the technology community to exchange perspectives and discuss the future of AI, digital trust and the importance of collaboration in building a trusted digital ecosystem for Malaysia.

During the session, MIMOS conducted a short interactive poll to engage with participants and understand their thoughts in real time. Participants shared their views on deepfakes and online trust, and their responses revealed not only growing awareness of the issue but also valuable insights into how people perceive digital threats and what they believe is needed to strengthen trust online. Artificial intelligence is becoming part of our everyday lives, and so is AI-generated content.

The question, ‘Have you ever encountered a suspected AI-generated content?’ , helped us gauge how familiar respondents were with synthetic media in their daily lives. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly common on social media, messaging platforms, and news channels, the responses provide a snapshot of public exposure to this emerging technology. AI content has evolved far beyond deceptive fakes and promotional scams.

It is now being used for clever, humorous, and highly engaging storytelling, from animated household objects bringing everyday humour to life, to turning simple static photos into dynamic videos in mere seconds, today’s AI tools make creative production effortless. Concepts that once belonged strictly in sci-fi are now accessible to anyone with a few clicks.

However, the same tools that create entertaining content can also be used to generate convincing fake videos, clone voices, or manipulate images for nefarious intent. Figure 1 shows 85% of participants have encountered suspected AI-generated content, demonstrating that AI-generated content is widely circulating across social media platforms. Figure 1. Poll Results: AI-Generated Content Encounters But how well do we truly understand deepfakes?

While the term carries a strong negative connotation, as reflected in Figure 3, where words like fraud, deception, crime, risk, and misinformation dominate the public sentiment, these associations only scratch the surface. While public awareness of these risks is a positive step, it overlooks the core issue. Deepfakes are no longer just a conceptual risk, they are increasingly being weaponised for financial scams, identity theft, and large-scale disinformation campaigns.

However, the real challenge goes beyond fake videos. The greatest risk is that deepfakes can gradually erode digital trust. When manipulated content becomes increasingly realistic, people will begin to question everything they see and hear online, even genuine videos, photographs or official announcements. AI content has rapidly transitioned from mindless scrolling and creative novelties into a serious operational and security challenge.

The same capabilities that power harmless voice clones and dynamic images can now impersonate key figures, spread disinformation, and drive financial fraud. Beyond individual harm, this technology threatens public trust and national security infrastructure. This shift is clearly reflected in Figure 4, where 75% of participants categorised deepfakes as a significant threat to national security. The discussion extended beyond the technology itself to its real-world impact.

Deepfakes can be used to influence public opinion, damage reputations, commit financial fraud and create confusion during times of crisis. Even more worrying is their ability to erode trust. When people can no longer tell what is real, they may begin to doubt genuine information as well. Participants were asked who they believe is most vulnerable to deepfake-enabled scams and what the biggest challenges are in combating these crimes.

The responses suggest that elderly people are the most vulnerable, and protecting society requires more than advanced detection technologies, it also depends on greater public awareness, stronger regulations, effective collaboration, and the ability to keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI. Together, these insights illustrate an important shift in public perception.

Deepfakes are increasingly seen not merely as an online inconvenience, but as a broader societal challenge that requires coordinated action from government, industry, academia, and the public to safeguard trust in the digital ecosystem. Every day, we scroll through hundreds of posts, videos, and headlines. But how often do we stop to ask ourselves: Digital trust begins with individual responsibility.

Before sharing information online, it is worth taking a moment to question its authenticity, verify its source, and consider whether it could have been manipulated. These everyday habits may seem small, but they are becoming essential digital skills in an era where convincing AI-generated content can spread rapidly across online platforms. The findings reflect encouraging signs that many participants already question the authenticity of online information and verify content before believing or sharing it.

Based on the poll, 64% said they regularly verify online content (Figure 5), showing that awareness of digital misinformation is growing. As AI continues to evolve, critical thinking and digital literacy are just as important as technological solutions in protecting ourselves from misinformation and deception. At the same time, it also reminds us that verification cannot be an occasional habit, it must become a consistent part of our digital behaviour.

Figure 4 : Result for question ‘Do people verify before trust?’ It is important to recognise that we cannot solely trust what we see on social media. Remember, every time you… (AI-assisted rewrite, based on the original source)

Related: Intel