RENO, Nevada (KOLO) – Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have the capability to generate highly realistic fake images, audio recordings, and videos with remarkable efficiency. This advancement has already set the stage, providing a glimpse of what voters may encounter as the 2024 general election draws near.
Leading up to the New Hampshire primary, a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden was disseminated to voters, advising them against casting their votes. The fabricated message emphasized the significance of reserving their vote for the November election, cautioning that voting in the upcoming Tuesday primary would inadvertently support the Republicans’ efforts to re-elect Donald Trump. The deceptive call aimed to sway voters by asserting that their impact would be more substantial in November rather than on the immediate voting day. The extent of the call’s reach and its specific target demographic remain unclear, as contact lists can be readily obtained from data vendors.
The proliferation of such deceptive robocalls and deepfake technologies has raised concerns among election authorities nationwide, garnering attention from Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. In a statement provided to KOLO 8 News Now, she underscored the importance of combatting the dissemination of misinformation, particularly within the realm of elections. Senator Masto highlighted her bipartisan endeavors to address the escalating threat posed by deepfakes, emphasizing the need for responsible growth and regulation within the evolving landscape of AI and related technologies.
Despite ongoing discussions and proposed measures, there is currently a lack of federal regulations governing these deceptive practices. Gal Ratner, a technologist based in Las Vegas, asserts that the engineering community foresaw these challenges well in advance, advocating against excessive regulation of the internet.
Ratner contends that the core issue lies not in the technology itself but in the responsible stewardship of its utilization. He warns against the potential influence of Big Tech lobbyists on regulatory frameworks, citing recent criticisms within the industry regarding corporate lobbying tactics aimed at shaping global regulations.
Emphasizing the transformative power of smartphones, Ratner urges vigilance, likening these devices to potential weapons in the digital age. He acknowledges the inherent risks associated with AI-driven deception, noting that the proliferation of disinformation predates the advent of advanced AI tools.
Ratner underscores the critical role of education in navigating the complexities of the digital landscape, urging individuals to exercise caution and skepticism in an era where the authenticity of visual and auditory content can be easily manipulated.
As the inevitability of AI advancements unfolds, Ratner acknowledges that regulating these technologies effectively presents a formidable challenge, unlikely to be fully realized before the 2024 elections. He advocates for a multifaceted approach that includes traditional investigative methods such as reverse image searches, verification of content sources, and direct confirmation from involved parties to validate the authenticity of digital content.
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