February 22, 2023

deep fake

Fake Biden Speeches Are the Hottest Trend in AI Voice Tech

RollingStone, 02/22/23. AI tools for voice cloning, such as the recently launched Voice Lab by AI startup ElevenLabs, allow users to create realistic clones of people’s voices with just a short sample of their speech. Recordings of President Joe Biden’s voice are abundant, making it easy for anyone to create their own AI copy of him that can read any text in his voice.

However, the potential abuse of this technology is concerning, as evidenced by 4chan trolls using it to generate fake audio of various public figures spewing hate speech, and deepfake videos of Biden denouncing transgender people. ElevenLabs has acknowledged the potential for misuse and has promised to implement additional safeguards. READ MORE

china

ChatGPT Reportedly Blocked On Chinese Social Media Apps—As Beijing Claims AI Is Used To Spread Propaganda

Forbes, 02/22/23. ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, has reportedly been blocked on Chinese social media apps due to accusations of using AI technology to spread propaganda. This situation highlights the potential dangers of using AI for propaganda purposes and the need for ethical standards and regulations to prevent its misuse. While the use of AI in political communication and propaganda raises ethical concerns, it also presents opportunities for promoting transparency and democratic participation by providing access to accurate and reliable information. As AI continues to play a significant role in shaping public opinion, it is essential to establish ethical guidelines to ensure its use aligns with democratic values and principles. READ MORE

education

AI Bots Can Seem Sentient. Students Need Guardrails

INSIDE HIGHER ED, 02/22/23. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into higher education, concerns about its potential impact on students have been raised. One such concern is that AI bots, designed to assist students with tasks such as course selection and career advice, can sometimes seem sentient and therefore blur the line between human and machine interaction. This can create confusion and even emotional attachment among students, who may begin to rely too heavily on the bots. To address this issue, experts suggest implementing clear guidelines and boundaries around the use of AI bots in order to ensure that students understand their limitations and are not misled by their apparent intelligence. READ MORE

publishing

Sci-fi magazine overwhelmed by hundreds of AI-generated stories

NewScientist, 02/22/23. New Scientist recently reported that a science fiction magazine called “The Arcanist” was inundated with hundreds of AI-generated stories after launching a competition to find the best AI-written sci-fi story. The overwhelming response from AI programs shows the advancements in natural language processing and machine learning. However, the magazine’s editors were not completely satisfied with the submissions, as they noted that the stories lacked depth and creativity. This highlights the importance of human input and imagination in creative writing and storytelling. While AI can certainly aid in generating ideas and content, it cannot replace the human touch that brings stories to life. READ MORE

search

Microsoft Explains How Bing AI Search Uses Web Content

SEARCH ENGINE JOURNAL, 02/22/23. The Bing search engine employs artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its search capabilities and provide more relevant results to its users. Bing AI search uses natural language processing to understand search queries and provide personalized results based on a user’s search history and location. The search engine also uses machine learning to identify and filter out low-quality content, including spam and clickbait, and to determine the most authoritative sources of information. By leveraging AI, Bing aims to improve the search experience for its users by providing more accurate and useful results. READ MORE