A manipulated video featuring a fake voice of US Vice President Kamala Harris has raised alarms about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in elections.
The video, which was originally intended as a parody, gained widespread attention after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared it on his social media platform X on Friday evening, without indicating it was a joke.
Musk Shares Manipulated Video, Raises Concerns About AI in Politics
Elon Musk recently shared a manipulated video on his social media platform X that mimics the voice of US Vice President Kamala Harris. The video, which initially did not disclose its parody nature, used visuals from a real Harris campaign ad but replaced her voice with a fake one.
Source: X
Following backlash, Musk reposted the video with the original user’s caption stating it was a parody and added that “parody is legal in America.” Despite this, Mia Ehrenberg, a Harris campaign spokesperson, criticized the video, emphasizing that voters deserve genuine information rather than misleading content.
The video highlights the growing concern about AI-generated content being used to parody or mislead in politics. Some online users questioned whether Musk’s post violated X’s policies against sharing deceptive media, though the platform allows for memes and satire that do not cause significant confusion.
Musk’s initial post, which simply praised the video as “amazing,” did not clarify its parody status. Musk has previously endorsed former President Donald Trump, adding to the controversy. Neither the video’s creator, known as Mr. Reagan, nor Musk responded to requests for comment.
Experts Weigh in on AI-Generated Video Controversy
Two AI specialists analyzed the manipulated video of Kamala Harris and confirmed that its audio was generated using AI technology. Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert at the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted the sophistication of the AI-generated voice.
He noted that while most people might not believe the voice is Harris’s, the video’s impact is heightened when the words are delivered in her voice. Farid stressed the need for AI companies to prevent their tools from being used to deceive or undermine democracy.
Conversely, Rob Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, expressed concern that many viewers might be misled by the video. He argued that the quality of the video, though not perfect, is sufficient to deceive people, especially since it plays into existing narratives about Harris. Weissman emphasized that this incident underscores the need for stronger regulations on generative AI, a concern his organization has been advocating for.
Important: Please note that this article is only meant to provide information and should not be taken as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other type of advice.
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