Mark Matlock, a candidate for the far-right Reform UK party, has confirmed he is a real person despite suspicions that he might be an AI-generated bot.
Background and speculation: Matlock’s absence from key campaign events and his unusually smooth skin in a campaign image led to speculation on social media that he might not be a real person:
- A thread on X (formerly Twitter) questioned Matlock’s existence, suggesting a potential scandal if he turned out to be an AI bot.
- While an AI-generated candidate ran for UK Parliament this election, the possibility of Matlock being AI-generated seemed plausible given the uncanny appearance of his campaign photo.
Matlock’s response and explanation: In an interview with The Independent, Matlock clarified that he is indeed a real person and provided context for his absence and the controversial photo:
- Matlock stated he contracted pneumonia three days before election night, rendering him too ill to attend events like the election count.
- He provided the original photo that drew attention, explaining that the background was removed and the color of his tie was changed, contributing to the AI-generated appearance.
Broader context of AI in elections: The 2024 elections are already being impacted by the widespread use of AI tools, though AI bots have not yet replaced human politicians:
- Convincing deepfakes of politicians, such as the cloning of President Joe Biden’s voice to discourage voting, are becoming more common.
- The handling of political ads created using AI tools is an emerging issue, with Google announcing it will automatically generate disclosures for AI-generated political ads.
Key takeaway and lesson: Matlock’s case serves as a cautionary tale for politicians in the age of AI:
- Engaging with constituents, maintaining a public profile, and attending key events are crucial to avoid speculation about one’s authenticity.
- Overly edited photos that resemble AI-generated images can fuel suspicion and should be avoided by candidates seeking to establish trust with voters.
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