USACE officials push back on deepfake Mississippi River videos

Описание: AI-generated “deepfake” videos are spreading false claims about the Mississippi River—ranging from “missing water” narratives to wildly inaccurate statements about river depth. In this episode of WJ Talk, Waterways Journal speaks with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leaders and technology expert Susan Olson about what the videos got wrong, how real river data is measured and published, and how viewers can verify trustworthy sources.

Guests:

Patrick Chambers, Chief of Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Mississippi Valley Division (USACE)

Joey Windham, Chief, Watershed Division (USACE)

Susan Olson, Founder, Action Intel

Topics covered:

What the deepfake videos claimed (and why the claims don’t hold up)

How river stages, rainfall timing, and flow data are actually monitored

The role of gauges, surveys, dredging, and interagency collaboration

Why sensational misinformation spreads quickly online

Practical tips for verifying information in the age of generative AI

About WJ Talk:

WJ Talk is a regular series of conversations sponsored by Waterways Journal, the oldest trade journal covering the barge industry since 1887.

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Why these videos matter

01:05 What the deepfake videos claimed

03:10 “Missing water” and “three feet at Memphis” explained

06:15 How river data is measured and published

09:10 Why low-water cycles get misunderstood

12:05 How to verify sources in the AI era

14:30 Closing: where to find trusted information