The hoaxes ranged from mischievous pranks to malicious misinformation, and their success was often due to their novelty. The article highlights the potential dangers of AI technology, such as the use of voice-cloning for extortion schemes, the creation of social media bots promoting cryptocurrency, and the manipulation of images to spread false information. It concludes by suggesting that the public needs to be more vigilant in the future to avoid falling for such scams.
Key takeaways:
- The year 2023 saw a significant rise in AI-generated content, including deepfake videos and phony pictures, which ranged from mischievous pranks to malicious misinformation.
- Some of the notable AI hoaxes included a deepfake video of Bill Gates storming out of an interview about Covid-19 vaccines, an AI-generated image of an explosion near the Pentagon, and voice-cloning phone scams.
- Other notable AI scams included a fake image of Pope Francis in a stylish jacket, AI sex bots seducing clueless boyfriends on Instagram, and AI-generated images of Target selling 'Satanic' clothing.
- Despite the rise in AI hoaxes, experts hope that increased vigilance and awareness will help prevent the spread of such misinformation in the future.