AI News Anchors: How China Uses AI Deepfake avatars as 'news anchors' to spread disinformation
Summary
TLDRThe video script discusses the rise of AI-generated anchors in news broadcasting, highlighting China's use of such technology since 2018. It raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI to spread disinformation, exemplified by a New York-based research firm's discovery of a pro-China misinformation campaign using digital avatars. The script also mentions Synthesia, an AI video creation startup, which offers digital avatars in multiple languages but has ethical guidelines to prevent misuse. The video serves as a cautionary tale, urging viewers to scrutinize online content more closely.
Takeaways
- 🤖 AI technology is now being used to generate computer-generated news anchors, making it harder to differentiate between reality and virtual content.
- 🇨🇳 China has been using AI-generated avatars for news broadcasting since 2018, starting with the Xinhua News Agency.
- 📰 The use of AI in news media has opened up new possibilities but also raised concerns about spreading misinformation and disinformation.
- ⚠️ Digital avatars created by AI are being used by China to spread pro-government messages and disinformation, particularly targeting the United States.
- 🎭 Deepfakes, media created or altered by AI, are increasingly sophisticated and difficult to distinguish from real content.
- 🌐 A research firm, Graphica, uncovered a pro-China misinformation campaign using AI-generated avatars to promote Chinese Communist Party interests.
- 💻 The AI video creation startup Synthesia is behind the creation of these fake news broadcasters, offering over 65 digital avatars in 120 languages.
- 💰 Synthesia's software is accessible for as little as $30 a month and is primarily used for education, marketing, and training purposes.
- 🛡️ Synthesia claims to have strict ethical guidelines, prohibiting the use of their software for political, personal, or discriminatory content, although misuse still occurs.
- 🔍 The rise of AI-generated content necessitates a more critical approach when consuming online media, as distinguishing between real and fake becomes increasingly challenging.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video script?
-The main topic of the video script is the use of AI-generated avatars as news anchors, particularly in China, and the potential for these avatars to spread disinformation.
Who launched the first AI news anchor, and when?
-China's Xinhua News Agency launched the first AI news anchor in 2018.
What concerns are raised about AI-generated news anchors?
-Concerns are raised that AI-generated news anchors could be used to spread disinformation and propaganda, making it difficult for people to distinguish between real and fake news.
Which company created the AI-generated avatars for 'Wolf News'?
-The AI-generated avatars for 'Wolf News' were created by Synthesia, a five-year-old AI video creation startup.
What are deepfakes, according to the script?
-Deepfakes are media content generated or edited by artificial intelligence that can be used to create realistic but fake videos or images of people.
How does Synthesia ensure the ethical use of its AI software?
-Synthesia states that its software is not available for public use and that all content undergoes an internal screening process. It does not tolerate or approve political, sexual, personal, criminal, or discriminatory content.
What is the significance of Graphica's findings in the context of AI-generated content?
-Graphica, a New York-based research firm, uncovered a pro-Chinese campaign using digital avatars to promote the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and criticize the United States, highlighting concerns about AI misuse for political propaganda.
What are some potential uses of AI video creation software like Synthesia's?
-AI video creation software like Synthesia's can be used for education, marketing, human resources, and training.
Why is the creation of AI avatars considered potentially harmful?
-The creation of AI avatars is considered potentially harmful because they can be used to create convincing fake personalities and spread disinformation, leading to political manipulation and public distrust.
What does the script suggest viewers do when watching videos online?
-The script suggests that viewers should take a closer look at videos to determine if they might be AI-generated or contain misleading information.
Outlines
🤖 AI Anchors and the Rise of Deepfakes
The paragraph discusses the advent of AI-based news anchors, exemplified by China's launch of an AI anchor in 2018. It highlights the dual nature of AI technology, which can be used for good but also has the potential to mislead by creating realistic but fake news anchors. The paragraph also touches on the use of AI to spread disinformation, as uncovered by Graphica, a New York-based research firm. This firm found a pro-Chinese campaign using digital avatars to promote Chinese Communist Party interests and criticize the United States, raising concerns about the misuse of AI for political purposes. The paragraph concludes by mentioning the ease with which deepfakes can now be created using open-source software, and the need for vigilance when consuming online video content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)
💡Deep Fakes
💡Digital Avatars
💡Disinformation
💡Synthesia
💡Political Spam
💡Misinformation Campaigns
💡Cyber Experts
💡Ethical Reasons
💡Fictitious People
💡Open Source Packages
Highlights
China has been using AI anchors for news since 2018.
AI technology opens up various options for use, but also raises concerns about the blurring line between reality and online deception.
Wolf News, a news outlet, uses AI-generated fake avatars as news anchors to spread disinformation.
A New York-based research firm, Graphica, uncovered a pro-Chinese campaign using digital avatars to promote the Chinese Communist Party's interests.
The campaign also targets the United States government on issues like gun violence.
Cyber experts have warned about the misuse of AI for political games.
Deepfakes are easily created with open-source packages available online.
Synthesia, a five-year-old AI video creation startup, sells digital avatars in multiple languages and accents.
Synthesia's software can produce videos in minutes, used for various purposes like education and marketing.
The company states it will not offer its software for public use and has an internal screening process.
Synthesia does not tolerate or approve political, sexual, personal, criminal, or discriminatory content.
Disinformation peddlers continue to experiment with AI software, raising the need for vigilance when consuming online content.
The ease of creating AI-generated content raises questions about the authenticity of online videos.
The case of AI anchors highlights the need for critical thinking and verification of news sources.
The development of AI in news media has significant implications for the future of journalism and information dissemination.
The potential misuse of AI for spreading misinformation is a growing concern in the digital age.
The transcript discusses the ethical considerations and challenges posed by AI in the context of news and media.
Transcripts
just so you're clear I am not AI based
but she is I am a computer generated
person that doesn't exist in reality AI
taking over the news must have seemed
bizarre a couple of years ago but right
now it's a reality in fact China has
been doing it for quite some time in
2018 China State on shinshua news agency
launched an artificial intelligence
anchor hello everyone I'm an English
artificial intelligence anchor this is
my very first day in zingwana's agency
AI Tech opens up a plethora of options
for being used for good but on the flip
side it's hampering people's ability to
tell reality from online perjuries two
broadcasters for a news Outlet called
wolf news are not real people China is
using Aid fake avatars as news anchors
to spread disinformation Graphica a new
york-based research firm has uncovered a
pro-chinese campaign using digital
avatars to promote the interests of
Chinese Communist Party while also
bashing the United States government on
issues like gun violence and this is
huge because it raises concerns
previously highlighted by cyber experts
that AI can be misused for political
games deep fakes are media generated or
edited by artificial intelligence and
super easy to create now they are open
source packages available online that
allow the creation of avatars or
fictitious people easily for instance
look at these Tom Cruise deep fix you
cannot make out that it's not really him
Graphica observed instances of pro-china
misinformation campaign known as spam of
Lodge in these campaigns political spam
accounts plant content online and then
use other accounts that are part of the
network to amplify the material across
various platforms now these two fake
World News broadcasters were created by
synthasia a five-year-old AI video
creation startup Synthesia sells over 65
digital avatars in 120 languages and
accents to clients which range from
multinational companies like Reuters
Accenture Amazon and many other the
entire process is as easy as writing an
email this is what Synthesia writes on
its own website the software which costs
as little as 30 a month produces videos
in minutes that are mostly used for
Education marketing human resources and
training the website further ads how for
ethical reasons it will not offer their
software for public use and that all
content will go through an explicit
internal screening process before being
released to their trusted clients It
also says that political sexual personal
criminal and discriminatory content is
not tolerated or approved but as we can
see disinformation Peddlers will
continue experimenting with AI software
so the next time you come across a video
you might want to take a closer look for
more informative videos like this keep
watching India today newsmo
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