As first reported by Bloomberg, Midjourney's CEO, David Holz, has proposed banning images of prominent political figures such as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in response to growing concerns about the spread of misinformation ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.
This move is intended to combat the increasing use of AI-generated content for political manipulation.
Growing Threat AI Deepfakes
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) tools capable of swiftly creating manipulated images and videos, the dissemination of fake political content has become alarmingly easy.
In case you missed it, individuals have already utilized Midjourney's AI to produce deepfakes depicting scenarios such as Trump's fake arrest, which quickly gained traction on social media.
During a recent chat session on Discord, Holz candidly addressed the issue, acknowledging the allure of creating images featuring Trump but emphasizing the potential risks during this critical election period.
"I know it's fun to make Trump pictures - I make Trump pictures," Holz remarked. "Trump is aesthetically really interesting. However, probably better to just not - better to pull out a little bit during this election. We'll see."
Holz's remarks underscore the company's stance in mitigating the misuse of its AI technology for political disinformation. While Midjourney already has guidelines in place to prevent the creation of misleading content involving public figures, concerns persist regarding the effectiveness of such measures.
Industry-wide Measures to Counter Fake Content
Furthermore, Holz hinted that any potential ban on political images might be implemented discreetly, without a formal announcement. This approach reflects the company's commitment to addressing the issue without drawing unnecessary attention or inviting circumvention attempts.
Engadget tells us that the proposal to ban specific political images comes amid broader efforts within the tech industry to combat misinformation ahead of elections. Meta, formerly Facebook, has announced plans to label AI-generated content, while OpenAI intends to introduce watermarks on images produced using its platforms like DALL-E 3.
However, experts caution that such measures may offer only partial solutions to the overarching problem of political disinformation. Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert at the University of California, Berkeley, emphasized the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle the issue effectively.
"Let's not pretend that banning images of Biden and Trump in Midjourney is going to solve the much, much larger problem we have of political disinformation," Farid cautioned.
He highlighted the persistent challenges posed by advancements in AI technology and the ever-evolving tactics employed by bad actors.
Despite the complexities involved, tech companies remain committed to addressing the issue of misinformation. Industry leaders are collaborating with government agencies to establish safety standards for AI technologies, signaling a collective effort to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.
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