I've moved this newsletter to Saturday mornings, so be sure to look for your favorite AI updates as part of your weekend reading routine. In today's edition, you'll find important news about disinformation and a fantastic, free course I highly recommend. Enjoy!

Israel’s Deepfake Campaign

Israel has paid more than $2 million for a campaign to sway U.S. lawmakers to support Israel in its war in Palestine. The campaign featured social media posts, primarily on X, and multiple fake news websites.

One website categorizes American universities as either "safe" or "unsafe" for Jewish students; another opposes the concept of a Palestinian state, stating that participating in a movement advocating for some of the worst man-made social structures is worse than aligning with oppressors; a third site highlights the historic slave trade in East Africa, as reported by NPR. During this election year, political campaigns like these have been occurring worldwide, with similar efforts also being organized by Russia.

Thankfully, the operation did not gain a large following and seems to have had limited impact.

But this reveals a concerning point. It is not a new concept that countries use propaganda against one another. What remains to be seen are the new tactics that rise out of AI and whose media systems are most at risk. What are illicit actors doing with AI that hasn’t been done before? Mostly, governments have been using AI to continue or expand existing influence practices. In other words, they are merely increasing quantity and these AI generated campaigns are proving to be just as effective as those created in normal influence operations.

According to GovTech, in 2023 at least 47 governments attempted to spread propaganda. It’s only a matter of time until one of them comes up with something new.

A Verified Deepfake

Strong Foundations

As AI continues to expand its reach, it becomes increasingly important to understand how it works. Effective leaders should be well-versed in the functionality of their most crucial tools. I discovered a course from IBM that provides a solid foundation in AI, explaining how it accomplishes its remarkable feats. The course covers various concepts, including machine learning, generative AI, and AI ethics, offering a comprehensive overview of the field. The course is offered on Coursera and is free to take.

Worth It

—”Meet AI Steve: The bot-driven politician using artificial intelligence on the campaign trail” by Barney Davis of The Independent

—”Propagandists are using AI too—and companies need to be open about it” by Josh A. Goldstein and Renée DiResta of MIT Technology Review

—”The AI election is here. Regulators can’t decide whose problem it is.” by Cristiano Lima-Strong and Eva Dou of The Washington Post

—”OpenAI forms safety council as it trains latest artificial intelligence model” by The Associated Press

—”How nations attempt to influence U.S. members of Congress” by Kerwin Hall of American University

Random News

—”Brazil: Former mayor of Rio, Cesar Maia, mistakenly joins council video call whilst in the bathroom” by Sky News

Authored by Daniel Dean with the assistance of AI.