• Deepfake and synthetic media are increasingly used as avatar tutors in multilingual MOOCs. • They boost social presence and participation by providing culturally relevant, multilingual interactions. • Cost savings from AI‑generated videos can lower production barriers for global courses. • Ethical concerns include authenticity, privacy, and shifting teacher‑learner dynamics. • UNESCO guidelines and EU AI Act highlight regulatory gaps and the need for transparency. • The paper proposes a policy framework emphasizing AI literacy, responsible governance, and inclusive design.
Article Summaries:
- A scoping review of 2020‑2025 literature examines how deepfake‑based synthetic media-cloned voices, multilingual translation models, and avatar tutors-are being incorporated into multilingual MOOCs. The study finds that these tools can lower production costs and enhance learner engagement, but raise significant concerns about authenticity, privacy, and the evolving teacher‑learner dynamic. By analysing UNESCO guidelines and the EU AI Act, the authors propose a policy framework that emphasizes transparency, responsible governance, and AI literacy. The goal is not to replace human instruction but to embed synthetic media in ways that strengthen pedagogical design, protect learner rights, and promote inclusive, engaging MOOCs.
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