AI-generated images and videos about Hurricane Milton may be more than just annoying clickbait. It may also be associated with fraud or disinformation campaigns.
In the aftermath of the Category 3 hurricane that devastated parts of Florida, social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook were flooded with AI-generated content. Some AI-generated images and videos are easier to find than others, such as those that are clearly meant for laughs. image A photo of a girl hugging a crocodile on a boat in the pouring rain.
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Some are more convincing. For example, an AI-generated image of a flooded Disney World that initially fooled many people. share By Russian propaganda media.
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The only result may be the spread of disinformation, which is bad enough, but AI-generated internet trash can also be used to lure people into scams.
How to identify AI-generated images
Hurricane Milton AI slope is everywhere
At this point, many people have seen fake images of underwater Disney World walkways. But after a quick scroll through TikTok, show AI-generated footage of Hurricane Milton causing havoc.
Some videos are labeled as AI-generated videos with hashtags and captions, but it’s easy to imagine how they could be shared and misused by someone else. can. Karen Panetta, IEEE fellow and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts University, explains how AI-generated content can be weaponized to cause panic and chaos. Masu. “Less than 30% of adults understand what AI can do, so when you create scary headlines and misinformation the public, many people panic,” Panetta said. Deaf,” he said.
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To be clear, the actual damage caused by Hurricane Milton is devastating. But when AI-generated content emerges, users begin to question reality. That, in turn, could breed mistrust and create fertile ground for hurricane conspiracy theories. Case in point, one X user They claimed that footage of NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick was fake and even suggested that Dominick was not in space. Since then, the video Verified Like the real thing.
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But to add to the confusion, several satellite images purporting to be of Hurricane Milton have been debunked. snoop As the caption is incorrect or generated by AI.
Beware of scams using AI-generated images
In addition to misinformation and disinformation in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, experts say they are also wary of scams. Federal Trade Commission issued A press release issued the day before Milton Island made landfall warned consumers to be wary of “people seeking to take advantage of a natural disaster through potential fraud and price gouging.”
According to Panetta, scams like fake charities can be made more convincing by using generative AI. “No matter what the disaster, something is always happening everywhere.” [scammers] “People are trying to set up fundraising web pages that are not legitimate,” Panetta said. “What’s happening now is that they have easy access to AI-generated images, which gives them credibility and It’s being used to say, ‘Look, this is more than just something.’ I’m asking for money. Look how scary this is. ”
This AI-generated image of a crying girl holding a puppy in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen shows how images, even if fake, can strike a chord and inspire people to donate. A perfect example of this. Smart internet users may realize that it’s fake, but others may not know And these people are easy targets for scams.
To some, some of the AI-generated images of Hurricane Milton may seem like an innocuous example of kids wanting to show off their AI generation skills. However, this is not always the case. False innocence can be part of the way people let their guard down. “This is the whole strategy: How do I fool people? And once I convince them that I’m legitimate, there are questions,” Panetta said.
“There’s always money in the end,” she added.
Natural disasters like Hurricane Milton can make people extremely vulnerable, but it’s even more important to apply critical thinking and think twice before reacting to anything online. The FTC says scams often request payment via wire transfer, gift cards, payment apps, virtual currency, or cash, and recommends checking them. resource How to avoid scams after a weather emergency.
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artificial intelligence
https://mashable.com/article/fake-hurricane-milton-ai-images-real-consequences