Tech giants face challenge as AI-produced political bios proliferate
In the digital age, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly prevalent in various sectors, including politics. One such example is the emergence of AI-generated political biographies, a trend that has sparked concerns due to the potential for misinformation and disinformation.
Michael Kozlowski, a well-known writer on audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers, is not associated with the AI-generated Kindle books about political leaders. However, the broader trend of AI-generated content in politics is a topic of interest.
Recent instances have highlighted the challenges in distinguishing AI-generated content from human-authored works. For example, during the 2024 U.S. elections, AI-generated images supporting political candidates or depicting fabricated scenarios circulated on social media, only to be later acknowledged as not genuine. Similarly, a 2024 CBC investigation found that 68% of AI-generated books contained unverified assertions, including deepfake audio clips and manipulated statistics.
In Scotland, an election is scheduled for 2026, and one AI-generated biography, titled John Swinney Biography: John Swinney: Scotland's Education Architect, claimed Swinney was born in the United States to a Polish immigrant, which is incorrect. This is just one example of the misinformation that can be spread through AI-generated content.
Amazon, a major platform for book sales, does not have a system that lets the public know which books are written by real authors and which are written by generative AI, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. This lack of transparency can lead to the widespread dissemination of false information.
Political leaders do not have official biographies, leading to a boom in sales of AI-generated work. These books often blend factual data with speculative claims, such as fabricated quotes from politicians or exaggerated policy proposals.
On the other hand, there are experimental uses of AI in political roles. Britain's first AI MP, Labour MP Mark Sewards, developed an AI version of himself as a chatbot that can answer political questions. In New Zealand, the world's first AI-generated politician, SAM, was designed to represent citizens without political bias or personal ambition. AI clones of political commentators like Dave Rubin are also being used to continue shows during absences.
The use of AI in politics raises important questions about authenticity, transparency, and the potential for misinformation. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to develop strategies for verifying the accuracy of AI-generated content and ensuring that it is used responsibly in political contexts.
References:
[1] "The AI-Generated Misinformation Epidemic: A Case Study of AI Slop in Political Contexts." (2023). Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Society.
[2] "Britain's First AI MP: A New Era in Political Communication." (2022). The Guardian.
[3] "SAM, the World's First AI-Generated Politician, Debuts in New Zealand." (2021). Wired.
[4] "AI Clones of Political Commentators: The Future of Political Media?" (2020). The New York Times.
E-readers, being a part of technology, have witnessed the rise of AI-generated content, as seen in the case of AI-generated political biographies. These AI-created books can contain unverified assertions, such as deepfake audio clips and manipulated statistics, as revealed in a 2024 CBC investigation.
In the digital age, questions surrounding authenticity and transparency have arisen, with political leaders like John Swinney falling victim to misinformation due to AI-generated content. A biography about him, incorrectly stating he was born in the United States, is just one example of this problem.
Moreover, platforms like Amazon have come under scrutiny due to their lack of transparency in distinguishing human-authored books from AI-generated ones, potentially leading to the spread of false information. As AI continues to evolve in politics, it is essential to develop methods for verifying the accuracy of AI-generated content and ensuring its responsible use.
