Artificial intelligence presents significant challenges to humanity’s long-standing pursuit of truth. The emergence of large language model “hallucinations,” vocal deepfakes, and an uptick in video deepfakes has muddied factual discourse, enabling malicious actors to dismiss credible events as mere “fake news.”
This issue is particularly pressing in the political arena, where deepfake technology can manipulate audio and video, creating the illusion that politicians have said or done things they have not. In this context, it is crucial for high-ranking officials to exemplify a commitment to factual inquiry and responsible use of AI.
However, some appear to take a more entertaining approach. Negotiations over budgetary disagreements can be overshadowed by the circulation of deeply offensive deepfake videos portraying political adversaries in a humiliating light, complete with exaggerated props like fake mustaches and CGI sombreros.
In a recent development, the sitting president of the United States shared a 35-second AI-generated video on his Truth Social account that was rife with derogatory language, racial undertones, and outlandish conspiracy theories. The video targeted two Democratic leaders, creating a spectacle that seemed unlikely to foster agreement on governmental funding, but perhaps reflects a troubling new interpretation of negotiation strategy.
The clip featured a digital rendition of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivering a peculiar speech while Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) observed while wearing a sombrero.
The New York Times provided a generic summary of the video, noting that “the voice of Senator Chuck Schumer was distorted to deliver expletive-laden remarks that included the line, ‘Nobody likes Democrats anymore.'” While the description stands as factually accurate, it risks downplaying the chaotic and divisive implications of AI’s misuse. The full quote illustrates this point starkly:
“Look, guys, there’s no way to sugarcoat it. Nobody likes Democrats anymore. We have no voters left because of all of our woke trans bullshit. Not even Black people want to vote for us anymore. Even Latinos hate us. So we need new voters. And, if we give all these illegal aliens free health care, we might be able to get ’em on our side so they can vote for us. They can’t even speak English, so they won’t realize we’re just a bunch of woke pieces of shit, you know, at least for a while until they learn English and realize they hate us, too.”
It’s important to clarify that individuals residing in the U.S. without legal status are prohibited from voting in federal and state elections. A 2024 audit in Georgia conducted by Republican officials revealed that out of 8.2 million registered voters, only 20 were not U.S. citizens, with none having a history of voting despite their registration.
In an environment where knowledge is difficult to acquire and even harder to share, the adage “a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes,” frequently misattributed to Mark Twain, reflects a complex history that remains largely unknown to many.
In this context, the pursuit of truth does not benefit from the proliferation of AI-generated misinformation. Yet, the situation appears to be worsening.
