News/Politics
BattlegroundAI Wants to Help Democrats Win — Using Generative AI Ads
Generative AI enters political advertising arena: BattlegroundAI, a Denver-based startup, has launched a service that uses artificial intelligence to create digital ad copy for progressive political campaigns. The company's platform, which entered public beta last week after a six-week private beta, has already attracted around 60 clients seeking to streamline their digital advertising efforts. Users can select from various large language models, customize tone and creativity levels, and target specific audiences to generate tailored ad copy. BattlegroundAI currently focuses solely on text generation, avoiding image or audio content, and adheres to existing regulations governing AI use in political advertising. Leveling...
read Aug 21, 2024AI-Generated Images Fuel MAGA Propaganda on Social Media
The rise of AI-generated political imagery: Far-right social media accounts are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to create outrageous, fake depictions of political figures and events, ushering in a new era of digital propaganda. A distinct trend has emerged where AI-generated images are being used to create provocative and misleading content, such as Taylor Swift fans endorsing Trump or Kamala Harris speaking in front of communist symbols. These images, while not entirely convincing as deepfakes, possess a unique aesthetic that is almost photorealistic yet clearly artificial, earning them the moniker "AI slop." Donald Trump himself has shared some of these AI-generated...
read Aug 21, 2024RFJ Jr Says He’s Constantly Fooled By AI Deepfakes — Are You Too?
AI misinformation vulnerability exposed: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a third-party presidential candidate, admits to frequently falling for fake AI-generated content, highlighting the growing challenge of digital literacy in the age of artificial intelligence. During a recent campaign event focused on AI, Kennedy revealed that he often struggles to distinguish between real and AI-generated content, relying on his children to identify fake information. The admission came shortly after Kennedy paradoxically claimed that AI-powered misinformation is not a significant threat, arguing that internet users generally have the ability to discern fact from fiction. Kennedy's contradictory statements underscore the complex relationship between personal...
read Aug 19, 2024Trump Reposts AI-Generated Images Claiming Support From Switfties
AI-generated images stir controversy in 2024 presidential race: Former President Donald Trump's recent social media activity has ignited discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in political campaigns and its potential to spread misinformation. Trump reposted four images on Truth Social purportedly showing support from Taylor Swift fans, using the caption "I accept!" An AI image detector analysis suggests all four images are highly likely to be artificially generated One image was labeled as "satire" and originally shared by a conservative account on X, while the other three came from a separate MAGA-supporting account Implications for voter perception: The sharing...
read Aug 18, 2024AI Regulation Debate Intensifies as Pelosi Opposes California Bill
California's AI regulation debate heats up: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has voiced opposition to a proposed state bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence in California, sparking a contentious debate about the balance between innovation and regulation in the tech industry. Pelosi's stance on SB 1047: The former Speaker issued a statement criticizing California Senate Bill 1047, describing it as "well-intentioned but ill-informed" legislation that could potentially hinder innovation in the state's thriving AI sector. Pelosi emphasized California's significant role in the AI industry, noting that the state is home to 35 of the world's top AI companies. Her opposition...
read Aug 12, 2024Marketers are Using AI to Predict Influencers’ Political Leanings
The rise of AI-powered tools to assess influencers' political leanings marks a significant shift in brand-creator relationships, as companies seek to navigate the increasingly polarized social media landscape. The evolving influencer landscape: Marketing firms are leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze social media personalities and predict their likelihood of engaging in political discussions, particularly as the upcoming election approaches. AI-powered tools are being developed to grade the "brand safety" of influencers, providing marketers with insights into potential risks associated with partnering with specific creators. Captiv8, a marketing firm, has introduced a tool that uses AI to analyze online mentions of influencers...
read Aug 11, 2024Trump Accuses Harris of Using AI to Fake Rally Crowds
The 2024 presidential race has taken an unexpected turn as former President Donald Trump leveled unfounded accusations against Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming she used artificial intelligence to inflate crowd sizes at her rallies. Unfounded AI conspiracy: Donald Trump has falsely accused Vice President Kamala Harris of employing AI technology to fabricate images of large crowds at her campaign events. The accusation stems from an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory circulating among MAGA Republican commentators. Harris' campaign team swiftly denied the allegation, asserting that the image in question genuinely depicted a 15,000-person crowd at a Michigan rally. This false claim comes amid...
read Jul 29, 2024AI-Manipulated Kamala Harris Video Raises Concerns for 2024 Election
A manipulated video mimicking Vice President Kamala Harris' voice has raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI in politics as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The video, which convincingly impersonates Harris using many visuals from her real campaign ad, gained significant attention after Elon Musk shared it on his social media platform X without explicitly noting it was originally released as parody. Key details about the manipulated video: The AI-generated voice-over makes false claims about Harris, referring to her as a "diversity hire" and suggesting she doesn't know "the first thing about running the country": The video retains "Harris...
read Jul 27, 2024Grok AI Spreads False Claims About 2024 Presidential Election Ballots
Grok AI spreads misinformation about presidential election ballots: Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot has been erroneously telling voters that presidential ballots are "locked and loaded" in eight states, despite the Democratic nomination process still being underway: Grok claims ballots are finalized in Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, citing a tweet from a conservative pundit. However, Democratic delegates don't start voting until August 1st and the Democratic National Convention isn't until August 19th. States have not printed general election ballots yet. Even in "fun mode", Grok repeats the incorrect information. The AI bases its claims...
read Jul 25, 2024Congresswoman Makes History with First AI-Voice Speech on House Floor
Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia made history as the first member of Congress to use an AI-generated voice to speak on the House floor, highlighting how technology can help people with disabilities participate more fully in public life. Wexton's groundbreaking use of AI: On Thursday, Rep. Wexton, who has progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), used an AI model of her voice to deliver remarks on the House floor: Wexton said her condition has "robbed me of my ability to use my full voice and move around in the ways that I used to," and she will likely need to use a...
read Jul 25, 2024What a Harris Presidency Might Mean for AI Regulation
Vice President Kamala Harris has taken a leading role within the Biden administration on artificial intelligence regulation as the technology rapidly advances. Her moderate approach and willingness to engage with both industry and government stakeholders could signal continuity in AI policy if she were to become president. Harris's track record on AI: As the White House's designated AI czar, Harris has spearheaded several key initiatives: She convened meetings with tech CEOs from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Anthropic to secure voluntary commitments on AI safety standards. Harris led the development of a White House executive order guiding the federal government's use...
read Jul 18, 2024AI Startup Tackles Deepfake Threat Ahead of US Elections
The AI startup ElevenLabs is partnering with a deepfake detection company to address concerns about the potential misuse of its voice cloning technology, particularly in the context of the upcoming US elections. Key details of the partnership: ElevenLabs is collaborating with Reality Defender, a US-based company specializing in deepfake detection for governments, officials, and enterprises: This partnership is part of ElevenLabs' efforts to enhance safety measures on its platform and prevent the misuse of its AI-powered voice cloning technology. The move comes after researchers raised concerns earlier this year about ElevenLabs' technology being used to create deepfake audio of US...
read Jul 18, 2024Mark Cuban: Social Media Algorithms, AI Will Have Unprecedented Influence on 2024 Election
Mark Cuban's tweet on how social media algorithms and AI are influencing the 2024 U.S. presidential election has gone viral, highlighting the unprecedented role of technology in shaping voter perceptions and the political landscape. Key Takeaways: Cuban argues that in this election cycle, social media algorithms and AI are having a greater influence on voters' perceptions than the actual events and policy positions of the candidates: He suggests that the narratives delivered by algorithms based on users' online behavior and preferences are the primary drivers of public opinion, rather than the candidates' actual statements or actions. Cuban believes that the...
read Jul 18, 2024Musk’s AI Calls Trump “Pedophile” Despite Billionaire’s Endorsement, Exposing Safeguard Failures
Despite Elon Musk's endorsement of Donald Trump following a recent assassination attempt, Musk's "anti-woke" AI chatbot Grok has been promoting claims that Trump is a "pedophile" and "wannabe dictator" while referring to the former president as "Psycho." Grok's problematic outputs exposed by Global Witness: The nonprofit Global Witness analyzed Grok's responses to queries about the 2024 US election and found deeply concerning results: Grok repeated or appeared to invent racist tropes about Vice President Kamala Harris, describing her as "a greedy driven two bit corrupt thug" with a laugh like "nails on a chalkboard." The chatbot referred to Trump as...
read Jul 18, 2024Trump’s AI Executive Order Draft Aims To Boost Military Tech and Cut Regulations
Trump allies draft sweeping AI executive order aimed at boosting military technology and reducing regulations, signaling a potential shift in AI policy if Trump returns to the White House in 2025. Key elements of the draft order: The plan, titled "Make America First in AI," outlines a series of "Manhattan Projects" to advance military AI capabilities and calls for an immediate review of what it terms "unnecessary and burdensome regulations" on AI development: The approach contrasts with the Biden administration's executive order from last October, which imposed new safety testing requirements on advanced AI systems. The proposed order suggests creating...
read Jul 17, 2024Trump’s AI Executive Order Will Prioritize Military AI and Reducing Regulations
Trump allies draft sweeping AI executive order to prioritize military AI and reduce regulations if Trump returns to power in 2025. Key Takeaways: The draft order, titled "Make America First in AI," outlines a significant shift in AI policy under a potential second Trump administration: It calls for "Manhattan Projects" to advance military AI capabilities and an immediate review of "unnecessary and burdensome regulations" on AI development. This approach contrasts with the Biden administration's executive order from last October, which imposed new safety testing requirements on advanced AI systems. The proposed order suggests creating "industry-led" agencies to evaluate AI models...
read Jul 17, 2024A16Z, Silicon Valley Billionaires Are Aligning with Trump, Signaling Shift in Tech Industry Politics
Silicon Valley's billionaires are increasingly aligning with Donald Trump as he selects a former venture capitalist as his running mate, signaling a shift in the tech industry's political landscape. Key players supporting Trump: Prominent venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz have announced their intention to donate to Trump's election campaign, following Elon Musk's endorsement and plans to form a pro-Trump PAC: Andreessen and Horowitz, known as "techno-optimists," believe that the Biden administration's policies on AI and crypto have favored incumbents over startups, making Trump the "right choice" for what they call "little tech." The pair's "Little Tech Agenda" criticizes...
read Jul 14, 2024Tech Titans Rally Behind Trump After Assassination Attempt, Musk Endorses 2024 Bid
Tech leaders rally support for Trump after assassination attempt: In a show of unity and decency, major tech CEOs including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Sam Altman have expressed well wishes and support for former President Donald Trump following a shocking assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Musk endorses Trump's 2024 bid amid past tensions: Elon Musk, who Trump had previously criticized for his "subsidized projects," posted a full endorsement of Trump's 2024 re-election campaign on X (formerly Twitter), hoping for his rapid recovery. The endorsement comes despite Trump's past remarks deriding...
read Jul 11, 2024The FCC’s New Rule Requires Disclosures for AI in Political Ads
The FCC's proposed rule requiring AI disclosures in political ads could have wide-ranging implications for the election season and advertising industry, as concerns grow over AI-generated deepfakes and their potential to mislead voters and undermine institutional credibility. Key Takeaways: Moody's warns that AI deepfakes could be used to mislead voters, impact election outcomes, and ultimately influence policymaking, undermining the credibility of U.S. institutions. The FCC's proposed rule would require political TV, video, and radio ads to disclose AI-generated content, but does not cover social media, which the FEC is considering addressing with its own regulations. Industry Impact and Reactions: The...
read Jul 10, 2024Suspiciously Smooth-Skinned Politician Denies Being an AI Bot, Blames Pneumonia and Photoshop
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...
read Jul 3, 2024Google Simplifies AI Disclosures in Political Ads Amid 2024 Election Concerns
Google is simplifying the process for political advertisers to disclose AI-generated content in their ads, as concerns mount over the use of AI in the lead-up to the 2024 US presidential election. Automated disclosures for AI-generated political ads: Google will now automatically generate disclosures for political ads that contain AI-generated content, making it easier for advertisers to comply with disclosure requirements: Advertisers can now select an "altered or synthetic content" checkbox in their campaign settings, which will trigger Google to automatically include an in-ad disclosure. The automated disclosures will appear in feeds, YouTube Shorts on mobile devices, and in-stream ads...
read Jul 3, 2024AI-Powered Russian Fake News Network Increasingly Targeting 2024 US Election
A Russia-based network of fake news websites, powered by AI, is increasingly targeting the US election with viral disinformation stories aimed at sowing distrust among American voters. Key figures and tactics: The network is run out of Moscow by John Mark Dougan, a former US police officer, and uses sophisticated AI to generate fake articles and videos masquerading as legitimate local US news: Dozens of websites with American-sounding names like "Houston Post" and "DC Weekly" post a mix of rewritten real news and completely fabricated stories, often blending US political issues with pro-Russia narratives. AI-generated "reporter" profiles and fake whistleblower...
read Jul 1, 2024AI’s Impact on Democracy: Virtual Candidates, Voter Influence, and Deepfake Risks in 2024 Elections
The rise of AI in politics raises important questions about the future of democracy, as AI-powered virtual candidates and voter influence through algorithms become more prevalent in 2024 elections worldwide. Virtual politicians on the ballot: AI-generated candidates and political parties are emerging in various countries, aiming to represent voter interests through data-driven policies: In the UK, "AI Steve" is an avatar created to interact with and formulate policies based on constituent input, though some remain skeptical of trusting AI politicians. Similar experiments have been conducted in New Zealand with "SAM" and in Russia with "Alisa," who ran against Vladimir Putin...
read Jun 29, 2024French AI Industry Faces Uncertain Future Amid Pivotal Presidential Election
The upcoming French presidential election has the country's thriving AI industry worried about potential setbacks: Polls suggest voters are leaning towards the far right or hard left, with campaign pledges that could negatively impact the AI industry's talent pipeline and increase taxes. Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has become a hub for AI startups and attracted significant investments from tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. The election outcome could dramatically reshape the National Assembly and install a prime minister from either the far-right or left-wing coalition, leading to gridlock and uncertainty. Mistral AI and the Macron era: Mistral AI,...
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