AI Tools Present New Risks in 2024 US Election

AI Tools Present New Risks in 2024 US Election

The risk of misinformation influencing voters has long existed during elections around the world. But political experts warn that new artificial intelligence (AI) tools may create even more problems during the 2024 American presidential election.

Newly released AI tools are widely available at no cost to the public. Such tools can be used to present voters with false, or fake, information in an effort to help candidates, experts say.

Misinformation can take many forms, including fake news stories that seem real. Voters can also be targeted with high-quality video or audio that appear to show real candidates, but which were actually created by machines.

Today, AI systems can quickly produce fake voices, images and videos in seconds. And they can be created for little or no cost to the users. The tools, described as "generative AI," have received wide attention since the launch of ChatGPT late last year.

Technology experts say these kinds of AI tools can be used to invent false messages in a series of different forms. The material can then be published to social media services or fake online news websites. Such material can be effective because it can target specific groups of people.

"We're not prepared for this," said A.J. Nash, vice¹ president of intelligence at the internet security company ZeroFox. "To me, the big leap forward is the audio and video capabilities² that have emerged," Nash told The Associated Press.

AI experts have identified possible situations in which AI could be used to trick the voting public. Among these are AI generated phone messages that seem to be in a candidate's own voice. Such messages could misinform voters about the correct voting date.

Fake voice recordings³ could also be created to show a candidate admitting to a crime or expressing racist⁴ opinions. Video could also appear to show candidates giving a speech or comments they never gave. False images could be designed to look like local news reports that claim a candidate dropped out of the race.

Former President Donald Trump⁵, who is running for president in 2024, has shared AI-generated content with his followers⁶. Recently, Trump shared a manipulated video of CNN news presenter⁷ Anderson Cooper on his Truth Social service.

Another example of what AI tools can do is a campaign advertisement released last month by the Republican National Committee (RNC). The online ad came after Democratic President Joe Biden officially announced his reelection campaign.

The ad began with an image of Biden and the words, "What if the weakest president we've ever had was re-elected?" The ad then showed a series of AI-created images. These included Taiwan under attack, closed businesses in the U.S. and soldiers and military vehicles driving down streets.

RNC officials confirmed the use of AI in the ad. But other individuals or groups will likely develop and release such material in secret, said Petko Stoyanov. He is chief technology officer at Forcepoint, an internet security company in Austin, Texas. Stoyanov predicted groups aiming to interfere⁸ with U.S. democracy will employ AI tools and fake media material to reduce the public's trust.

He gave the example of international organizations, overseas criminals or states using AI tools to impersonate an American politician. In such cases, Stoyanov said, he is unsure U.S. officials or law enforcement could do anything about it.

Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to require candidates to identify campaign ads created with AI. Some states have offered their own proposals aimed at reducing the use of fake AI-generated content.

AI is not necessarily needed, however, to create false or misleading audio, video or written materials.

However, New York Representative Yvette Clarke said her biggest fear is that AI tools could be used before the 2024 election to create material that incites⁹ violence and turns Americans against each other.

"It's important that we keep up with the technology," Clarke told the AP. "People are busy with their lives, and they don't have the time to check every piece of information. AI being weaponized, in a political season, it could be extremely disruptive," she said.

Words in This Story

leap – n. a big jump

emerge – v. to become known

manipulate – v. to control someone in a way that makes them do what you want to do

impersonate – v. to copy the way someone looks and behave

disrupt – v. to block something and stop it from continuing as it should

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

4 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

7 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

8 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

9 incites   

刺激，激励，煽动( incite的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In all countries any person who incites others to insurrection is guilty of treason. 在任何国家里，煽动他人谋反者，都属犯叛国罪。
• The success of the handicapped man incites us to pursue our dreams. 这位残疾人的成功激励我们追求自己的梦想。