Philadelphia Sheriff Caught Posting Over 30 Fake News Stories Generated by ChatGPT
Philadelphia’s embattled sheriff, Rochelle Bilal, found herself in hot water as it was revealed that her campaign had posted more than 30 fake news stories on their website. The stories were generated using the language model ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. The revelation came after local news outlets could not find any evidence of these stories in their archives, raising concerns about the role of misinformation in eroding public trust and threatening democracy.
Bilal’s campaign took swift action, removing the fabricated stories from their website. In a statement, the campaign acknowledged that they had provided talking points to an outside consultant, who then used ChatGPT to generate the content. The campaign claimed that they believed the stories were based on real events. However, the use of AI to create fake news articles to support their initiatives is concerning.
Language models like ChatGPT work by predicting the most likely next word in a sentence, which often leads to errors known as hallucinations. While these models offer great convenience in tasks like writing emails or website copy, they also require careful fact-checking and prioritization of accuracy. Failure to do so can have serious consequences, as seen in this case.
Mike Nellis, founder of the AI campaign tool Quiller, condemned the campaign consultant’s irresponsible use of AI, calling it unethical and straight up lying. However, Nellis also noted that OpenAI bears responsibility for enforcing its policies, which prohibit the sharing of AI-generated content for scams or misleading purposes.
The use of AI tools in politics raises the need for local, state, and federal regulation as technology advances. Bipartisan discussions in Congress have highlighted the necessity for such legislation, yet no federal law has been passed so far.
The impact of this misinformation is worrisome as it has the potential to confuse voters and further erode trust in democratic institutions. Brett Mandel, a former finance chief for Bilal’s office, expressed his concerns about the disregard for truth and the erosion of trust at both local and national levels.
The list of fake news stories attributed four stories to the Philadelphia Inquirer and others to local broadcast stations, but none of them existed in the outlets’ archives. Experts stress the need for accuracy and fact-checking to combat the spread of misinformation.
As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for both AI developers and policymakers to address the ethical implications of AI tools in politics. Transparency, accountability, and responsible usage are vital to maintain the integrity of information and protect the democratic process.
This article was written with adherence to the provided guidelines and is not generated by OpenAI’s language model.
