The rise of AI-generated misinformation has set a disturbing precedent, following the creation and dissemination of a fake image of Pope Francis in a white puffer coat. The image, which was generated using an AI tool called Midjourney, went viral on social media platforms as people believed it to be authentic. Although it was a harmless meme, it has raised concerns about the potential for AI to generate and spread widespread misinformation that could have harmful consequences. As the creator of the Pope Coat image revealed, it was just a funny idea that he came up with while tripping on shrooms, but the fact that AI-generated content is increasingly indistinguishable from real content is cause for concern.
Deepfakes, for example, have already been used as political tools, and it is feared that the rise of AI-generated misinformation could further erode trust in news media and make it impossible for people to know what is real and what is fake. In a world where anyone can generate images and videos from thin air, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine information from fake news. Skepticism reigns online, but so do conspiracy theories, and the era of social media has transformed the online world into a breeding ground for both. While AI technology has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, it also presents a significant challenge in terms of ensuring the veracity of the information being disseminated.
