Dónal and Ciarán discuss some of the concerns about misinformation and disinformation that have emerged with the rise of impressively capable GenAI models, and provide some detail on what their effects might be. They discuss the calls for regulation and how this has begun to take shape in the EU, Ireland,  and elsewhere.

Topics in this episode

• What are the implications for misinformation inherent in the current and emerging GenAI models?
• Why have there been calls to pause development, and why did this not lead anywhere?
• How have the various language, image, audio, and video models already been used for problematic content?
• Is social media ready for the onslaught to come?
• Can we regulate AI to combat this and how is that beginning?
• Why should we be critical of offers to self-regulate from the tech companies?
• What's the EU AI Act? 
• And why is Ireland using the word "doomsayers" in policy documents about AI?

Resources & Links

• The EU's AI Act: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/
• Some of ISD's work on AI & Misinformation: https://www.isdglobal.org/digital_dispatches/disconnected-from-reality-american-voters-grapple-with-ai-and-flawed-osint-strategies/
• More on the Slovak Deepfake case discussed by Ciarán: https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/beyond-the-deepfake-hype-ai-democracy-and-the-slovak-case/
• GenAI & ISIS: https://gnet-research.org/2024/02/05/ai-caliphate-pro-islamic-state-propaganda-and-generative-ai/?
• The Irish Government's "Friend or Foe" Report: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6538e-artificial-intelligence-friend-or-foe/

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