A recent robocall impersonating President Joe Biden and advising New Hampshire residents not to vote in the state’s Democratic presidential primary was likely created using artificial intelligence, according to experts in disinformation and technology. The call, considered an unlawful attempt to suppress voters, is believed to be a deepfake – an AI-generated audio or video designed to mimic real people without their knowledge. The origins of the call are unknown, but experts suggest that the manipulated voice on the call closely resembles Biden’s, indicating the use of sophisticated AI technology.
Ben Colman, the CEO of Reality Defender, stated that while there is no definitive proof, all indications point to the robocall being a deepfake. Advances in AI technology have made it easier for individuals to replicate someone’s voice with only a small amount of sample audio, emphasizing the need for vigilance in identifying deepfakes. Lindsay Gorman from the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy explains that there are often subtle clues in deepfakes, such as unnatural cadence or eye movements, which have become harder to detect as the technology evolves. The incident has raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI for disinformation and voter suppression, prompting calls for regulatory frameworks to address deceptive AI practices in the realm of politics.
