Albertans are heading to the polls tomorrow, for a consequential election that could shape the province’s future. But as the vote approaches, experts say that AI-generated misinformation about the referendum is rampant.
Researchers at McGill University have been tracking the province’s social media landscape. They say there has been a recent uptick in posts claiming election fraud, which is expected to continue past the election. Some of these are bot or AI-generated.
Lauren Dwyer, an assistant professor of information design at Mount Royal University’s School of Communication Studies, said these AI-generated posts are a real threat because they can influence what people believe.
“If you control the news, you control the narrative. If you control the narrative, you control perception. If you control perception, you control the reality for people,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer said AI-generated posts can easily be mistaken for truth in this AI-filled world.
How can AI misinformation impact the election?
Timothy Caulfield, a professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, said that AI misinformation can be incredibly sophisticated.
“Unfortunately, you can create very convincing AI content that sort of supports preconceived notions, preconceived lies, about important topics,” Caulfield said
In a recent episode of The Globe and Mail podcast “The Decibel,” investigative reporter Grant Robertson said that misinformation can change the beliefs of the population.
“These are articles or memes, or things on social media that could be passed around, potentially YouTube videos, faux documentaries, things like that, that are designed to essentially change hearts and minds,” Robertson explained.
Caulfield says generative AI is changing the way people interact with and understand news. He says that many people mistake bot-generated content for real news.
“Studies have consistently shown that people aren’t very good at spotting AI. AI text, AI audio, AI video —we’re not very good at it,” Caulfield explained.
How can people fight back against AI-generated content?
Dwyer says there are ways to push back against misinformation.
“Read the whole article,” she said. “If you are ready to take it at face value, challenge yourself. Look for any other article either supporting or going against that claim.”
With the referendum fast approaching, the question is no longer whether misinformation is part of the mix, but rather, whether Albertans look beyond the headline before casting their ballots.