Regular readers of this blog may have noticed (or not) that I never mention artificial intelligence. I think it’s ominous. I don’t like simulations of real people. I don’t like technology that can write even better than most humans. I prefer to deal directly with humans, not fakes.
Artifial intelligence may be deployed as a deceptive weapon in the upcoming elections.
2024 is a crucial year in our politics. On the ballot in the primaries and in the general election will be candidates who are offering theocracy, dictatorship, or democracy. They will use AI to woo and confuse voters.
New Hampshire blogger and former state senator Jeanne Dietsch has posted a warning about deep fake videos. The video she posts is titled “This Is Not Morgan Freeman.” The face is Morgan Freeman, the voice is Morgan Freeman. But it is not Morgan Freeman.
She also offers a warning about the three factions that are competing in New Hampshire.
She writes:
Elected officials no longer act as individuals. They vote as teams. In NH we have three types of teams:
- “LIBERTY” CANDIDATES who do not believe in majority rule or public services. They want to privatize education, public lands and government services. They believe the only behaviors that should be illegal are theft and bodily harm. People may make fentanyl, pollute the water supply, sell body parts, or do anything else on their private property. That includes corporations that want to buy up state forests to lumber or entire swaths of housing to rent.
- FASCIST & THEOCRATIC CANDIDATES also want to replace democracy with minority rule. Unlike liberty candidates, they want stricter laws set by a dictator or by religious leaders. Their goal is to control society, as in Putin’s Russia or a Christian version of Iran.
- PRO-DEMOCRACY CANDIDATES may disagree on how large government should be and many other issues. However, they will stand up against those who support lawlessness or dictatorship. They will ensure we regularly hold fair elections. They believe in the rule of law.
Political parties no longer define the teams in this state. Undeclared voters outnumber either party by a third. In 2020, the “liberty” team temporarily took over the NH House Republican Caucus. Even though they were a minority of the 400 House members, they controlled the agenda. Pro-democracy legislators in both parties were powerless.
The story in DC is similar. The functions of the American republic are being held hostage by a small minority.
Will we fall for the deep fakes? Will we be deceived by AI? Or will we protect our democracy?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
@Diane, Yes! The first thing I said, “Wait till it mimics your voice. And you now have agreed to enroll in some club that costs you thousands. ‘With your okay…” Family finances ruined and we all know once something goes awry with a credit card, health insurance…it is a pain to fix. On Sunday Morning last week, we were introduced to “Grace” who sounds exactly like a person, but has some definite flaws. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-artificial-intelligence-is-revamping-customer-call-centers/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
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AI can fake any voice. Imagine getting a call from your child or grandchild and it says “I’m in big trouble. I need $5,000 to bail me out. Cash. Help me.” Scam.
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@Diane — I actually got those emails from a former student when THAT scam first started. My wife works in a bank and helped an elderly client save $5K because her “grandson” was in trouble. She made her stop and think, “Really, when was the last time you spoke with your grandson?” She was so easily swayed to send her money into the “nether verse.” Now with AI, how would one know the difference?
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Rick,
I got that phone call. The young man sounded very much like one of my grandsons. He needed cash to ail him out after allegedly hitting a car driven by a pregnant woman. He gave me the phone number of the “arresting officer.”
I called his mother immediately. She said he was in his dorm, studying for exams. But I could see how someone could be fooled, esp if AI recreates the actual voice.
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Moreover, I am constantly telling my mother (85) to NOT CLICK ON THOSE SCAM emails. I said DELETE. If someone wants to get ahold of you, they will by mail. From Peacock to some Internet (not available in their area) saying she owes them money. DO NOT CLICK, mom!
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Imagine what havoc deep fakes can wreak on gullible folks in an election cycle. I can also imagine Russia and China are working on it as I write.
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Talking about AI–
MOSCOW, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared briefly lost for words on Thursday when confronted with an AI-generated version of himself.
The “double” took the opportunity to put a question to Putin about artificial intelligence during an annual news conference where dozens of callers from around the country were hooked up to the president by video link.
“Vladimir Vladimirovich, hello, I am a student at St Petersburg state university. I want to ask, is it true you have a lot of doubles?” the double asked, prompting laughter among the audience in the hall with Putin in Moscow.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-confronts-his-ai-double-2023-12-14/
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That’s hilarious!
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DeSantis just dropped out with a video on the Xitter. He took the opportunity to bash schools for indoctrinating kids.
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Even though we are in such tumultuous times, my wife and I made our rounds at our local thrift stores. Here we each found some greats books with some great words of wisdom. I found Jon Meacham’s “The Soul of America.” I love listening to his narratives on history. “Each of these dramatic hours in our national life have be shaped by the contest to lead the country forward rather than back, to assert hope over fear, and to let what Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature” win the day. Then, my other great find was “HERE: Poems for the Planet.” I remain optimistic that good will win out and as many have stated “45” is appealing to his base and those numbers reflect a small number of our overall nation. But, “this book contains beautiful, generous poems of ideas for action. It is my heartfelt hope that it will inspire readers to ask themselves, ‘but what can I do?’ to see that there is a way forward — learning to share the earth and its resources while taking care of it together.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Despite all the crap, I choose to focus on the good in people and doing what I can to make the world a little better than tomorrow than yesterday. With that said, however, when someone needs a helping hand, I will reach out. Blessings all. And thank goodness for books!
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Imagine this scenario: Joe Biden wins the 2024 presidential election, the Democrats hold onto the Senate, and they retake the House. If this happens, we could see a truly transformative period very like the New Deal.
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If Biden wins and has a majority in both Houses of Congress, we would see healthcare legislation, student debt relief, protection of reproductive rights, and a fairer tax system.
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I hope somebody investigates DeSantis’ use of public funds. He is very secretive and tries to operate behind closed doors. From the migrant flights and border protection in Texas to his campaign, the people of Florida should have a right to know where any public money goes. His poorly run campaign led by cronies, operated with no fiscal constraints.
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And it’s called “The Sunshine State.”
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Good riddance to DeSantis. Repulsive man
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And the bad news is that he is coming back here to Florida.
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Bob, so sorry you have this restless troublemaker returning to harass groups he doesn’t like.
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Can’t yoh just lock the door to keep the riff raff out?
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