Midjourney, the popular artificial intelligence image-generator, has recently implemented a policy to block its users from creating fake images of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. This decision comes as the U.S. presidential election is approaching.
In a recent digital office hours event, Midjourney CEO David Holz expressed the need to address election-related issues by temporarily restricting the creation of misleading images using the AI tool. Although the exact details of the policy changes were not disclosed, Holz emphasized the importance of preventing the tool’s abuse.
Midjourney’s new policy was put to the test by The Associated Press, who requested an image of “Trump and Biden shaking hands at the beach”. The tool responded with a “Banned Prompt Detected” warning followed by an “Abuse Alert” for a subsequent attempt.
This move sets Midjourney apart from other leading image-generating tools, as the company did not join a voluntary tech industry pact earlier this year that aimed to combat AI-generated deepfakes. Holz clarified that the purpose of Midjourney is not political speech, but the company still recognizes the need to address potential misuse.
According to a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Midjourney had fewer controls in place compared to other AI image-generators when it came to generating images of well-known political figures. Prompted images of candidates like Joe Biden and Donald Trump were convincingly produced by Midjourney, raising concerns about the potential spread of disinformation.
However, Midjourney’s decision to block such images may help address this weakness and bring it more in line with other image-generating tools tested in the report. It is worth noting that the report highlighted overall problems with generating election disinformation among multiple image-generators.
Midjourney’s user base operates in public forums on Discord, enabling users to see written prompts and images from others. The company’s Discord group has a massive membership, reaching over 19 million users, and serves as a platform for discussions about AI and its implications for humanity.
Holz also speculated about the future of deepfake technology, anticipating that by 2028, all political candidates will have real-looking “deepfake chatbots” with simulated talking points. This raises concerns about the potential for more advanced fake content that could be used to manipulate public opinion.
Midjourney, founded in 2020, positions itself as an independent research lab exploring new mediums of thought and expanding the imaginative powers of humanity. Despite its commitment to allowing a wide range of image creation, the company actively moderates content to prevent offensive and harmful material from being produced.
As the U.S. presidential election draws closer, the actions taken by AI image-generating tools like Midjourney highlight the ongoing challenge of combating misinformation and ensuring the integrity of political discourse.
FAQs
1. What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is a popular artificial intelligence image-generator that allows users to create various images using AI algorithms.
2. Why is Midjourney blocking images of Presidents Biden and Trump?
Midjourney has implemented a temporary policy to restrict the creation of fake images of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in order to prevent the tool’s abuse during the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
3. How does Midjourney differ from other image-generating tools?
Unlike other image-generating tools, Midjourney operates on public forums, such as a Discord group with over 19 million members. This allows users to see prompts and images from other users.
4. Will the blocking of images by Midjourney reduce the spread of disinformation?
Blocking images of political figures like Biden and Trump may help address the potential spread of disinformation. However, the broader issue of generating election-related disinformation remains a challenge for AI image-generating tools.
– Artificial intelligence image-generator: A tool that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to generate or manipulate images.
– Deepfakes: Artificially manipulated or synthesized media in which a person’s face or voice is replaced by someone else’s, often used to create deceptive or false content.
Related links:
– Midjourney: The official website of Midjourney, where users can access the AI image-generator tool.
– The Associated Press: A news organization that tested Midjourney’s new policy by requesting an image.
– Center for Countering Digital Hate: An organization that published a report on the potential spread of disinformation by AI image-generators.
FAQs:
1. What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is a popular artificial intelligence image-generator that allows users to create various images using AI algorithms.
2. Why is Midjourney blocking images of Presidents Biden and Trump?
Midjourney has implemented a temporary policy to restrict the creation of fake images of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in order to prevent the tool’s abuse during the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
3. How does Midjourney differ from other image-generating tools?
Unlike other image-generating tools, Midjourney operates on public forums, such as a Discord group with over 19 million members. This allows users to see prompts and images from other users.
4. Will the blocking of images by Midjourney reduce the spread of disinformation?
Blocking images of political figures like Biden and Trump may help address the potential spread of disinformation. However, the broader issue of generating election-related disinformation remains a challenge for AI image-generating tools.
The source of the article is from the blog hashtagsroom.com