The articles I chose concern the use of AI and its potential interference in the voting booths. The Washington Examiner, written by Christopher Hutton (right), talks about how major companies like Google, X, Microsoft, TikTok, etc. will interfere with the use of AI-generated images and deepfakes. In the article it states, “Elections are the beating heart of democracies,” MSC Chairman Christoph Heusgen said in a statement “The [Accord] is a crucial step in advancing election integrity, increasing societal resilience, and creating trustworthy tech practices.” Words like cracked down, running out of time, proposed, and announced, are used to highlight that the companies are making these decisions even without legislation.
In the central article Reuters, talks about mostly the same thing how companies are trying to control the use of Open AI and the fears of AI use to sway the major voting since half of the earth’s population is voting this year. However, companies are setting tools that will be able to identify voice audio, create public awareness, and make sure that any AI content will contain a watermark. In the article it states, “It’s all good and well if individual platforms develop new policies of detection, provenance, labeling, watermarking and so on, but unless there is a wider commitment to do so in a shared interoperable way, we’re going to be stuck with a hodgepodge of different commitments,” Clegg said.”
In USA TODAY written by Jessica Guynn (left), the article talks about how global companies are under pressure from the white house to limit the use of AI. It states that virtually anyone can decide voters and with rapid advances in technology, election experts are prepared for the use of deepfakes. In New Hampshire’s primary elections, there were many uses of robocalls mimicking Biden’s voice trying to discourage people from voting. Biden signed an executive order but technology moves so fast it is hard to keep up. In the article it states, “It is good that many of the large tech platforms have agreed to identify and label deepfakes but their action falls short of what is needed,” said Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation at the think tank Brookings Institution. “We already are seeing fake videos and audiotapes and that usage is likely to grow as we get closer to the election.” States like Michigan, Minnesota, California, Washington, and Texas have already placed laws that will restrict AI in political communication. Lawmakers in 32 states have introduced 52 bills to regulate deep fakes in elections according to Public Citizen.
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The articles you’ve provided highlight concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology in influencing elections. All three articles express concerns about the potential impact of AI and deepfakes on election integrity. They discuss the risks associated with the manipulation of audio, video, and other content to spread misinformation and sway public opinion.They also mention actions taken by major tech companies to address these concerns. This includes developing tools to identify and label deepfakes, implementing detection mechanisms for AI-generated content, and creating awareness among the public about the risks associated with such technologies.
There’s a mention of government response to the issue, including executive orders signed by President Biden and legislation introduced in various states to regulate the use of AI in political communication. However, there’s also recognition that technology evolves rapidly, making it challenging for regulations to keep pace with advancements.
Overall, these articles highlight the evolving nature of the issue surrounding AI and deepfakes in elections, and the need for concerted efforts to address these challenges effectively.