Beijing did a test run in Taiwan using AI-generated content to influence voters away from a pro-sovereignty candidate
China will attempt to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea and India this year with artificial intelligence-generated content after making a dry run with the presidential poll in Taiwan, Microsoft has warned.
The US tech firm said it expected Chinese state-backed cyber groups to target high-profile elections in 2024, with North Korea also involved, according to a report by the company’s threat intelligence team published on Friday.
“As populations in India, South Korea and the United States head to the polls, we are likely to see Chinese cyber and influence actors, and to some extent North Korean cyber actors, work toward targeting these elections,” the report reads.
Microsoft said that “at a minimum” China will create and distribute through social media AI-generated content that “benefits their positions in these high-profile elections”.
But AI is scary, it’s like an assault weapon. No one knows what it actually is, but feared nonetheless.
… Image generation. Fabricated stories. Lies. Really?
You don’t see the potential for an automated evidence and witness account system to deluge the public sphere with “proof” that Cornel West, or whoever your favorite is, is running a pedophile ring in a pizza parlor basement?
You know how many times I’ve seen a picture and thought “ah. huh.” before later having it pointed out to me that, yes, actually, the hands are kinda fucked up. And you think this has no greater potential for swaying what stupid bullshit the average voter believes in.
—Actually, clear something up for me.
Do you believe in the power of generative AI to uplift and strengthen what today’s working people are capable of achieving—as a business tool. The same way the Internet revolutionized commerce and international business dealing.
Or do you believe it is simple, ineffective toy software, feared for no reason, and with no greater appeal than hobbyists looking to spice up their DnD character sheets.
Do you believe that AI generated images are “art” and that “prompt writing” should be recognized as a skill equal to that of a brush, only faster?
Or do you believe that a state would find it so useless it wouldn’t even make the strategy meeting for their next election cycle.
It’s a wide and diverse spectrum, I’m sure. Please, illuminate me.