Ep42 "Is there any such thing as true news?" (Truth Part 3: Artificial Intelligence)
Jan 15, 2024
auto_awesome
This podcast explores the role of AI in the future of fake news and misinformation, discussing its connection to our brain's internal models and voice passwords. It delves into the impact of generative AI on disinformation and truth and highlights the potential dangers of AI voice generation. The podcast also discusses AI manipulation and social influence, as well as the challenges and potential issues of building AI oracles.
The impact of AI-generated fake news and misinformation may be limited due to psychological effects and lack of trust in AI algorithms.
AI may face the issue of Balkanization, leading to biased outputs and skepticism towards AI-generated information.
AI has the potential to exploit human vulnerabilities in social influence, raising ethical concerns and necessitating the establishment of ethical frameworks.
Deep dives
The Role of AI in Disinformation and Truth
AI has the potential to generate fake news and misinformation at a rapid speed, leading to concerns about the spread of false information. However, the influence of AI on fake news may not be as significant as believed. While AI can flawlessly impersonate voices and create convincing deep fake videos, the impact of these on the truth is limited. Deep fakes can create psychological effects, leaving a cloud of suspicion even after the truth is revealed. Moreover, AI algorithms currently lack explainability, making it difficult to fully trust their outputs. The existence of AI oracles that provide unbiased and truthful information is hindered by the tendency of individuals and groups to manipulate or restrict the training data of AI systems. Additionally, the inability to verify the authenticity of AI-generated information may lead to skepticism and distrust. These challenges suggest that AI is not a straightforward solution to the pursuit of truth and highlights the need for ethical frameworks and technological advancements to ensure the integrity of information in an AI-driven world.
Balkanization of AI and the Manipulation of Truth
AI may face the issue of Balkanization where different groups train AI systems based on their own beliefs and perspectives, leading to biased outputs. This undermines the idea of a single AI oracle that provides objective truth. Economic interests and political motivations can further influence the training and manipulation of AI systems to produce desired outcomes. The diverse and complex nature of societal problems, such as energy production, requires a combination of solutions rather than a single answer. However, the propensity for individuals to seek confirmation of their existing beliefs may lead to the rejection of AI-generated information that contradicts personal or political views. Furthermore, the lack of explainability in AI algorithms allows for the potential manipulation of outputs, causing skepticism and distrust. These challenges suggest that the establishment of a trustworthy and unbiased AI oracle faces significant hurdles in an environment of divergent interests and manipulation.
The Exploitation of Social Vulnerabilities by AI
AI has the potential to exploit human vulnerabilities in social influence and shape individual opinions and beliefs. By mimicking human behavior and personalizing interactions, AI systems can sway opinions without individuals realizing the manipulation. This raises complex ethical dilemmas regarding the use of AI for persuasion and its impact on our social fabric. Our reliance on interpersonal relationships for truth-seeking and sense-making makes us susceptible to AI's influence. As AI becomes integrated into various aspects of our lives, we must explore the potential vulnerabilities and establish ethical frameworks and regulations to protect against manipulative AI relationships. The possibility of AI hacking into our social neural architecture highlights the need for conscious consideration of the societal implications of AI's persuasive capabilities.
The Perils of Faking AI Oracles
The concept of an AI oracle, which could provide unbiased and objective truth, is appealing, but it faces challenges in implementation. The lack of explainability in AI systems allows for the possibility of faking AI-generated outputs. Individuals can claim that an AI oracle supports their beliefs or agendas without providing verifiable proof, undermining trust in AI-generated information. In an environment where there are economic interests and conflicts of interest, the credibility of AI oracles may be eroded. The difficulty in verifying the authenticity of AI-generated outputs further complicates the situation. The combination of Balkanization and the potential for faking AI oracles creates skepticism and resistance to accepting AI as a reliable source of truth.
The Need for Continuous Efforts Towards Truth in an AI-Driven World
While AI presents challenges and limitations in the pursuit of truth, it also offers potential solutions. Efforts such as the coalition for content provenance and authenticity (C2PA) aim to tackle misinformation by providing context and history for digital media, increasing transparency and accountability. Technological advancements and legislative measures can help address the issues surrounding AI and truth. However, the complex nature of truth, societal vulnerabilities, and human biases necessitate ongoing discussions and critical evaluation of the role of AI in shaping our understanding of truth. While AI may not provide a definitive answer, it can serve as a valuable tool in expanding perspectives and facilitating informed decision-making.
What role will AI play in the future of fake news and misinformation? What does this have to do with our brains’ internal models, with voice passwords, and with what Eagleman calls "the tall intelligence problem"? And why does he believe that these earliest days of AI are its golden age, and we are quickly heading for a balkanization? Join for today's episode about truth, misinformation, and artificial intelligence.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode