Leading the charge has been Donald Trump, who has cast suspicion on a recently released video. That’s exactly what happened when a highly coordinated U.S. military strike into the Caribbean took out members of the Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela, killing 11 people. Posting the video on his Truth Social platform, Trump highlighted the dramatic moment when a long, multi-engine speedboat was struck by a bright flash of light. This event has reignited debates around misinformation and the use and ethical responsibilities of artificial intelligence in shaping public perception.
On Tuesday, Trump took the opportunity to endorse the popular movement of blaming artificial intelligence for misinformation. He went on to announce his complete enthusiasm for this trend. He warned that responsible actors might use AI to generate convenient scapegoats in support of misleading narratives. This is not even the first time he’s attempted to blame AI for his woes. Earlier this year, Trump claimed that the Lincoln Project, the notoriously anti-Trump political action committee, used AI to produce a video that portrayed him unfavorably.
Trump’s use of misinformation dates back well before AI emerged as a major issue. Many observers note that his tendency to distort facts to fit his narrative has raised concerns about trust and accountability in political discourse. Toby Walsh, an expert in AI ethics, warned, “It leads to a dark future where we no longer hold politicians (or anyone else) accountable.” Her sentiment speaks to larger fears about the intersection of technology and honesty.
In a bizarre twist, Trump last week even expressed regret over his notorious Access Hollywood tape. In that recording, he said deeply sexist things about women. This admission came during an ever-expanding, loud and damaging spotlight on his past statements and actions, stretching the most tenuous of future ties to truthfulness.
The role AI plays in shaping public perception is more important than ever. According to a Pew Research Center poll, nearly half of U.S. adults expressed concern rather than excitement regarding the increasing integration of AI into daily life. A breakdown from a recent Quinnipiac poll illustrates just how much Americans distrust information generated by AI. About three-quarters of respondents indicated that they would only trust this information “some of the time” or “hardly ever.”
In their 2019 study on Deep Fakes, Danielle K. Citron and Robert Chesney posed alarming arguments. They discovered an unintended consequence they dubbed “the liar’s dividend.” This premise is alarming because it indicates that politicians could use AI-generated fabrications to deny valid accusations of wrongdoing and further erode trust in real evidence. They stated, “If the public loses faith in what they hear and see and truth becomes a matter of opinion, then power flows to those whose opinions are most prominent—empowering authorities along the way.”
Trump’s rhetoric is grounded in the idea that truth is a malleable thing, one that can be controlled by masterful narrative. He once remarked, “If something happens that’s really bad, maybe I’ll have to just blame AI,” illustrating his willingness to manipulate perceptions when convenient.
Hany Farid, one of the world’s foremost experts in digital forensics, sounded all the right alarms about what this sort of thinking could lead to. He argued, “You get to deny any reality because all you have to say is, ‘It’s a deepfake’.” This environment creates a lot of skepticism about audio and video evidence. As a result, audiences have a hard time figuring out what’s true and what’s not.
The misinformation debate is not only contentious, it’s becoming dangerous. Trump’s enthusiasm for AI as a tool to escape accountability raises timely and profound questions about accountability in political discourse. Donald Trump has a tendency to really trample all over some obvious truths. Public health professionals are wondering just how far his most recent allegations will erode public confidence.
