KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Election season is fast approaching, and several experts have voiced concerns about how artificial intelligence technology can sway people's political opinions as they head to cast a ballot.
With this technology, people can mimic the voices and images of public figures — effectively allowing them to say whatever they want. The Knox County Public Library is hosting events that hope to show people how they can spot fake videos and images, and show them the importance of discerning truth.
"There are so many software programs now that are user-friendly, so ordinary individuals can download an app and quickly create a deep fake," said Catherine Luther, the director of the University of Tennessee's Information Integrity Institute. "They are projecting, estimating, that, there will be a huge increase in deep fakes in politics, in the political world, in terms of what we see online."
Deep fakes use artificial intelligence technology to generate video, audio and images that appear authentic. Some may purport to show bombings in conflict areas that never actually happen, while others may purport to show political candidates expressing support for an unexpected policy.
"When you deal with information, you really want to know credible sources, and that's where libraries come in. So, it's important that we, as an institute, help teach the public how to identify these things," said Mary Pom Claiborne, the Knox County Public Library's assistant director of marketing.
The Knox County Public Library will host four events on April 26 meant to show people how they can identify fake videos and images, and how they can stay informed during the election season. They are part of a series named "Truth and Consequences."
Events in the series are available below.
- Screening and Discussion: A Tennessee Waltz: Ray Blanton’s Last Dance (2023): Thursday, April 25 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center
- Panel Discussion: AI, Deep Fakes, Online Influencers and Political Communication: Friday, April 26, from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the East Tennessee History Center
- Conversation: First Amendment, Social Media, and Democracy: Friday, April 26, from 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center
- Screening: Marie (1985): Sunday, April 28 from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at Central Cinema
Friday's panel discussion event will include a panel of presenters from the University of Tennessee Information Integrity Department. The discussion afterward will include the co-founder of Compass, a local news website, and the author of the book, "Social Media Upheaval."
Experts said to spot deep fakes, people should consider where they're getting the information from and look closely at videos and images. Consider the message it's conveying, and try searching for other places the material may have been posted.