**Cyber Actors Exploit AI to Influence Elections Worldwide**
As the world gears up for a slew of democratic elections, a new threat has emerged: cyber actors leveraging artificial intelligence to spread misinformation and sway voters. According to a recent report by OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, more than 20 operations and deceptive networks worldwide have attempted to utilize their models to influence election outcomes.
From AI-generated website articles to social media posts by fake accounts, the threats are diverse and widespread. OpenAI’s report highlights the growing concern over AI-generated content, which has seen a 900% year-over-year increase in deepfakes, according to Clarity, a machine learning firm.
The report comes at a critical time, with elections taking place in over 40 countries, affecting approximately 4 billion people. The rise of generative AI has raised concerns among lawmakers, who fear its potential to amplify misinformation and undermine democratic processes.
OpenAI’s report reveals that election-related uses of AI range from simple content generation to complex, multi-stage efforts to analyze and reply to social media posts. The company has identified operations targeting elections in the U.S., Rwanda, India, and the EU, among others.
While most identified posts received minimal engagement, some AI-generated content did elicit responses from real individuals. OpenAI has taken swift action to address these incidents, banning accounts and disrupting operations within 24 hours in some cases.
As the world grapples with the implications of AI on democratic elections, OpenAI’s report serves as a timely warning, highlighting the need for vigilance and cooperation to prevent the misuse of AI in influencing election outcomes.
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