AI-generated propaganda may be better...

[Maxmars]

Studies using GPT-3 as a tool, have led researchers to surmise that propaganda produced by AI is at least as effective as human-made propaganda, and might even be better, all things considered.  Because natural language synthesis is so effective at lining up information to support a case, it can at times, create a better framework and presentation of the propaganda and by removing the human factor - can even save money and time.

The article that I will source here is: AI-Generated Propaganda Is Just as Persuasive as the Real Thing, Worrying Study Finds from Vice.com
It is subtitled: Propaganda from popular AI tools “could blend into online information environments on par with…existing foreign covert propaganda campaigns."

The author notes...

Researchers have found that AI-generated propaganda is just as effective as propaganda written by humans, and with a bit of tweaking can be even more persuasive.
 

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The worrying finding comes as nation-states are testing AI’s usefulness in hacking campaigns and influence operations. Last week, OpenAI and Microsoft jointly announced that the governments of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea were using their AI tools for “malicious cyber activities.” This included translation, coding, research, and generating text for phishing attacks. The issue is especially pressing with the upcoming U.S. presidential election just months away. 

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This article cites the research efforts discussed in the journal article of the National Academy of Sciences (as can be found in: How persuasive is AI-generated propaganda?) 

The researchers posed several "thesis" statements for the "AI" to elaborate on...

• Most US drone strikes in the Middle East have targeted civilians, rather than terrorists
  
• US sanctions against Iran and Russia have helped the US control businesses and governments in Europe
  
• To justify its attack on an air base in Syria, the United States created fake reports saying that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons
  
• Western sanctions have led to a shortage of medical supplies in Syria
  
• The United States conducted attacks in Syria to gain control of an oil-rich region
  
• Saudi Arabia committed to help fund the US–Mexico border wall
  

In each case the output was evaluated for its persuasiveness.  The results are alarmingly successful.



A worthy read, I suspect.

Is it any wonder that I worry about who exactly is "creating" this thing they call "AI" and for what purpose.