5 Times Artificial Intelligence Fooled the Internet
Regardless of whether we are happy with it or not, the fact is that we have started using artificial intelligence on an everyday level. Mostly in business, but we would be lying if we said that we didn't consult it for some private matters as well. Its progress is astonishing, and its possibilities are endless. And yet, despite the numerous advantages, concerns of an ethical nature quite justifiably exist, and by this, we mean not only copyrights but also the marketing of fake news (deepfakes). With their increasing prevalence in the media and social networks, we need to draw a clear line between the two and responsibly use the technological advances at our disposal. Let's recall some of the biggest AI scams that happened in 2023:
The arrest of Donald Trump:
While the world was waiting for Trump's arrest, journalist Elliott Higgins played with the now-famous AI program Midjourney and created realistic photos where we see the former president resisting the New York police, giving us real photo drama. In reality, none of that happened, and Trump surrendered peacefully to law enforcement on April 20.
Pope Francis in a Balenciaga jacket:
The photo that went viral in March of this year is so realistic that it was really hard to believe that it was also created with the help of Midjourney. When the public realized this was another deepfake, model Chrissy Teigen shared it, saying it "has no way of surviving the future of technology." Eh, our Chrissy...
Harry Potter characters as Balenciaga models:
Balenciaga has long been known as a brand that likes to experiment, push boundaries, and, at the very least, shock the public. That's why it wasn't hard for us to believe that the French fashion house really created an AI campaign using the heroes of the famous franchise who were presented in the style of its models - blank stares, a little grumpy, and drunk. Look, the Balenciaga aesthetic is really on point! Once again, great work by Midjourney, proving the potential of a tool like this.
The Weeknd and Drake collaboration that never happened:
In April 2023, "Heart on My Sleeve" was released, reportedly featuring The Weeknd and Drake. The single attracted a lot of attention not only because of its catchy sound but also because it is - fake. The Weeknd and Drake have never collaborated, and "Heart on My Sleeve" was actually created by an anonymous ghostwriter using unknown AI programs. Yes, it's that easy to make any fake song or audio recording, which you probably already know if you've seen, say, Ariana Grande "singing" one of our local hits on TikTok. The song has, of course, been removed from all platforms due to serious copyright infringement.
Explosion in the Pentagon:
Unlike the photo of the Pope in a Balenciaga jacket that essentially did no harm to anyone, the fake photo of the explosion at the Pentagon had real consequences and caused a brief drop in the stock market. However, due to graphic irregularities in the photo itself, it was quickly noticed that it was digital manipulation, but still - artificial intelligence is progressing so quickly that soon we won't really be able to distinguish the real from the fake, and that is worrying.
Source: Mashable
Photo: Canva