The realm of Generative AI has been marred by a range of unethical applications, from fabricating academic papers to replicating the work of artists. An unsettling trend has emerged with the integration of AI into state propaganda campaigns, shedding light on the dark side of technological innovation.
One such instance was uncovered in a recent report by Massachusetts-based threat intelligence company, Recorded Future. The report exposed a Russian-backed operation called “Operation Undercut.” This insidious campaign aimed to erode European support for Ukraine by disseminating fake news videos laced with AI-generated voiceovers.
Here are some key points highlighted in the report:
- The videos targeted European audiences and sought to discredit Ukrainian politicians by labeling them as corrupt or questioning the value of military aid to Ukraine.
- The sophisticated use of AI voice generation technology, including products from ElevenLabs, was detected in the creation of these deceptive videos.
- The videos were released in multiple European languages like English, French, German, and Polish, seamlessly spreading misinformation across the continent.
The report also attributed the orchestrators of this misinformation campaign to the Social Design Agency, a Russian entity that the U.S. government had sanctioned for operating a network of fake news websites in Europe. Despite their efforts, the impact of the propaganda campaign on public opinion in Europe was deemed minimal by Recorded Future.
Notably, ElevenLabs has come under scrutiny in the past for alleged misuse of its AI voice generation products. The incident involved a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden during a primary election. In response, ElevenLabs introduced new safety features to prevent deceptive impersonation.
The rise of ElevenLabs has been meteoric, with exponential growth in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and potential valuation at $3 billion. The company’s commitment to banning unauthorized and harmful usage of its technology demonstrates a step towards responsible AI deployment.
In a landscape where technology can be exploited for malicious intent, it is imperative for companies like ElevenLabs to uphold ethical standards and accountability in the development and deployment of AI tools. As AI continues to evolve, ensuring its ethical use remains a fundamental pillar of innovation in our increasingly interconnected world.
