Stronger Together: It's healthy to be wary of AI
AI, Artificial Intelligence, was once the stuff of science fiction. For many of us, AI is still a mystery. On the simplest level AI is the code behind computer programs that gather, synthesize, and organize data. For example, businesses use AI to analyze sales and customer satisfaction; medical research uses AI to track health issues. Artificial Intelligence is used in diverse fields such as cybersecurity, military, government agencies, advertisement and automation.
The most recent AI tools have the power to create lifelike images and mimic the human voice. The popular ChatGPT in seconds can pull up information, summarize, outline, and add additional resources. Unfortunately, AI can also be used for malicious purposes. Deepfake technology uses AI to create and disseminate disinformation. These false claims appear authentic and convincing. This is particularly concerning as we are well into the 2024 election cycle. We depend on news media and credible social platforms to get reliable information about our candidates. Unfortunately, millions of voters live in counties that are “news deserts.” Local newspapers and digital news sites are vanishing, and voters are left more vulnerable to AI-generated misinformation.
In both the 2020 and 2022 elections, AI-driven election disinformation was used to stir up controversy. Visual-based misinformation pushed out doctored pictures of discarded mail-in ballots. AI-generated posts on social media promoted claims of insecure voting machines and mail voting fraud. Continued widespread misuse of AI technology will create a fog of confusion that makes it even harder to tell what is true.
President Biden recently proposed steps to manage the risks of AI systems. His plans begin with governmental, civil society, and private sectors working together to both combat disinformation and develop tools that detect deepfakes. Major points in the Biden proposal include a Defense Production Act to monitor companies developing AI models that might pose “a serious risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety.” The Department of Homeland Security and Energy would oversee AI model standards and insure they are applied. Content authentication and the use of clear “watermarking” of AI-generated content would be required. Additionally, federal agencies would set examples of privacy-preserving techniques to protect personal data.
As AI has become part of global computer systems, vigilance is imperative. Our congressional representatives and both sides of the political aisle must work together to protect elections. AI developers and social media companies must also play a role in mitigating threats to our democracy by refining filters for election falsehoods and making it more difficult to create large-scale disinformation campaigns. In a frightening but possible future, voters could be deluged with manipulated viral images, videos, and AI-generated text. Artificial Intelligence-generated content may accelerate the loss of trust in the overall election process.
Is AI an ominous lurking force to be feared? Artificial Intelligence is being used for good in all fields from climate control to human trafficking. Some of the most powerful examples are in the field of medicine, AI can quickly and efficiently diagnose some illnesses. Wearable technology monitors symptoms. AI is being used to speed up clinical trials to get faster and more accurate results. Artificial intelligence also assists people living independently with disabilities. Voice-assisted AI is a major breakthrough for those who are visually impaired. Even Netflix uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict which images best engage viewers as they scroll through the company’s 16,800 titles.
Still wary of AI? President Obama stated, “We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it.” The challenge is to use technology for the good and monitor the uses that cause havoc. Communicating our concerns with our representatives is crucial. Knowledge and vigilance will be of utmost importance.
— Mary Bullard is a retired librarian and member of Stronger Together Huddle, a group engaged in supporting and promoting the common good. She resides in Lambertville and can be reached at mcneil102@icloud.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Stronger Together: It's healthy to be wary of AI
