Guest host Farai Chideya explores how AI-generated content can target and harm individuals and entire communities, and examines the efforts of advocates and policymakers working to address these threats.
Kristen Griffith, an education reporter for The Baltimore Banner, joins Midday to share her reporting on a local example of an AI-generated deepfake used to harm the reputation of local school principal Eric Eiswert in 2024.
Eiswert, the former principal of Pikesville High School where the incident occurred, addressed the incident in a statement submitted to WYPR.
I first want to publicly thank the Baltimore's State Attorney's Office (sic) and John Cox for taking this seriously and working to find a way to bring charges and address this crime. This is a new and emerging area of law, and Mr. Cox and his team fought hard to secure a conviction. I also want to thank Detective Rich for working tirelessly in his investigation and finding a way to uncover the evidence that led to the charges. It easily could have been brushed aside since this type of crime is fairly new. I also want to thank Billy Burke and CASE, the administrator's (sic) union, for immediately supporting me.
With regards to the dangers of AI-generated audio and deepfakes, Eiswert added:
"As the judge said when he sentenced the perpetrator, this type of action makes it harder to address real issues of racism and injustice. The public becomes numb to everything because it's impossible to know what is real."
To continue our discussion on AI issues, we hear from Mutale Nkonde, the CEO and founder of AI for the People. This organization advocates for policies that promote responsible AI development. Nkonde also serves on TikTok's Content Moderation Board and is the author of "Automated Anti-Blackness: Why We Need to Name Race to Create Just Technological Futures."
