We asked readers about the use of AI in political attack ads:
Seemingly authentic
The use of AI to generate seemingly authentic images is a recent innovation that has, as yet, few guardrails. The application of this technology is shown in many recent political hit pieces where a candidate’s opponents misrepresent, through realistic visuals, that candidate’s political positions and image — to embarrass and reduce that candidate’s chances of winning election.
Even if they could have imagined the possibility, this application of speech crosses the bounds of how our Founding Fathers conceived of “freedom of speech.” And besides outright dishonesty, many listeners may not recognize the deception. Such use borders on outright slander.— James L. Mulvihill, San Bernardino
Voters should be smarter
You had me until the “create fake news” part of your Question of the Week. People smart enough to be voting should be smart enough to clearly recognize the creative genius with sophisticated digital political campaign parody during election silly season.
Spencer Pratt has awakened citizens who have been Stockholm Syndrome voters for decades to the issues and the potential consequences of just voting for more of the same in LA.
Anyone who thinks that his supporters are sowing confusion among voters with his funny and entertaining ads is creating fake news to justify the false political umbrage by a career politician who may have finally met their match.
C’mon, man.
— Chuck Buquet, Rancho Cucamonga
Stating ‘alternative facts’
Trump created the acceptance of lies in his very first term in office when he created the term “alternative facts.” If I had tried that with my parents, my butt would have been kicked all the way to El Segundo, and we lived in Ohio at the time.Then Trump extended that term. Now the Republicans are using AI as a way to slander people. Freedom of speech is not without limits and responsibilities. Like Pandora’s box, you can’t get AI back in the box.— Shirley Conley, Gardena
