US Intelligence: Russia Is Using AI to Impact Upcoming Election

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Not only is Russia the most active user of AI for these statecraft purposes, according to the ODNI, but it’s also the most sophisticated. That’s thanks to its better understanding of how presidential elections work in the US.

The intelligence official gave Reuters’ reporters examples of Russia’s attempts to influence this year’s proceedings, using AI-enhanced social media accounts to disseminate pro-Kremlin messages.

They also described non-AI techniques to spread misinformation, such as staging a false video featuring a woman claiming she was hit by a car that Kamala Harris was driving.

Attempts are being made by social media companies to stymie the proliferation of this kind of misinformation, with TikTok following Facebook and Instagram in banning deceptive Russian media accounts.

And while Russia appears to be the greatest concern to US intelligence  agencies in the run up to the vote, the ODNI official also mentioned China and Iran as countries who were increasing their use of AI to influence international affairs.