Experts have warned of a dangerous new trend, with Russia and other states potentially using generative AIs such as ChatGPT to spread disinformation and sow doubt in minds across the world. Artificial intelligence (AI) and misinformation experts have told the Daily Star that “bad actors,” such as Russian president Vladmir Putin, may be encouraged by the AI’s newfound capabilities and the dramatic advances in technological capabilities.
Despite its potential for misuse, it is impressive to note just how far AI has come in such a short amount of time. Following reports of fake news stories created by ChatGPT, The Guardian’s head of editorial innovation admitted that the AI had been able to write articles in their style that even they were tricked into believing was genuine!
Kentaro Toyama, a professor of community information at the University of Michigan, stated that the ability for bad actors to create thousands of words in seconds with AI technology is a “tremendous force multiplier.” Steven Brill, a former journalist and lawyer, warned of the potential for AI to launder lies with the truth and create a high level of distrust among users in news and journalism sources.
Gordon Crovitz, Brill’s co-CEO and former publisher of the Wall Street Journal, agreed and pointed to how the AI made it incredibly easy to divide people with its powerful capabilities and content. AI has the ability to dramatically increase capabilities of bad actors and trigger a potential crisis for the world.
In 2019, ChatGPT researchers confessed that the company lacked the resources to “fight advanced persistent threats” such as those posed by countries or large companies who want to use their technology to spread misinformation. Only through international cooperation can the world prevent an AI crisis; Kentaro Toyama believes it will take a major event to bring countries together and solve the issue.
There are different solutions to the issue of AI misuse, but no one agrees on an ultimate solution. Brill and Crovitz believe it should be up to the companies to find solutions and strategies on their own, while Toyama believes it needs to be an international collaboration.
ChatGPT is a reputable technology company with a massive $29 billion value. Their purpose is to provide businesses with AI solutions for marketing and other functions that would be difficult for humans to do. However, their technology, as impressive as it is, has proven to be incredibly dangerous and proved its ability to be misused.
