UN: AI Could Spark Surge in Holocaust Denial

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • According to a report published Tuesday by a UN agency, developments in artificial intelligence (AI) technology could increase the spread of false and misleading information about the Holocaust online.[1]
  • The report — published by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in partnership with the World Jewish Congress — has outlined ways in which AI could potentially distort Holocaust-related history and fuel antisemitism.[2]
  • One of the ways includes the use of generative AI to manipulate Holocaust images and videos to produce deepfakes to suggest the Holocaust didn't happen.[3]
  • The report also warned of 'hallucinations' or incidents where a lack of detail or data related to a particular event, in this case, the Holocaust, could lead the AI tools to invent events, undermining existing facts and evidence and spreading disinformation.[4]
  • UNESCO's report also noted that 80% of people between 10 and 24 use AI multiple times daily for educational and other purposes and called for governments to introduce ethical safeguards around the technology.[5][6]

Sources: [1]The Economic Times, [2]The Hill (a), [3]ABC News, [4]Perspective Media International, [5]The Hill (b) and [6]Unesco.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Timesofisrael. Misinformation and deliberate manipulation by bad actors could be used to encourage violence and spread lies about the Holocaust. Developers and tech companies must take this report seriously and establish rules to govern the development and use of AI.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Rand. The threats of deepfakes and generative AI are greatly exaggerated, as conventional forms of media remain more popular for creating and spreading manipulated and false narratives. While this technology shouldn't be underestimated, warnings over the threats of AI often stray into alarmism.

Predictions