“Neo-Nazis Taking Their Bigoted Ventures Digital: Fully Invested in AI”

“Neo-Nazis Are All-In On AI”

“AI, especially in the hands of bad actors, poses serious challenges for democratic societies grappling with mis- and disinformation. One particular area of concern? The far right, specifically neo-Nazi groups and white supremacists.”

Flip over to the shadowy recesses of the internet and an uncanny occurrence emerges – alt-right groups swarming over advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). A fascinating landscape forms where white supremacist fog shrouds binary codes and neural networks. But, before we start rolling our eyes, let’s take a closer look at why this particular brand of cyber-enthusiasts can prove a real handful for democracies trying to thread the needle of misinformation and disinformation.

Sure, the immediate thought might be, “What’s new? Bad guys have always had a thing for nifty tech.” Truer words have never been spoken. However, the far-right’s infatuation with AI isn’t just your regular villainous caper. It’s not just about commandeering the latest tech or hacking into secure databases. It’s not even about creating their own ‘superior race’ of AI bots (which, by the way, does add a fresh layer of dystopian seasoning to the whole pot). It’s more deep-rooted and complex than that.

Unsurprisingly, these groups find the potential of AI fascinating – and why wouldn’t they? A technology that can sift through vast amounts of data, make intricate decisions, and, most importantly, be manipulated to toe their radical line of thinking makes for a potent weapon in their toolkit.

The potential pitfalls are worrisomely abounding. A deepfake video here, a misleading infographic there, and before you know it, an elaborate propaganda machine is cranking out disturbing narratives and ideologies. Add to that the fact that AI systems are essentially echo chambers, preaching back whatever skewed philosophies they’re trained on, and the image comes into stark clarity: using AI, neo-nazis have found a surreptitious, digital bullhorn to broadcast their dangerous rhetoric.

Is it time to batten down the hatches yet? Given the relatively massive leap AI technology has made in the past few years and the relative freedom these fringe groups enjoy on the dark web, probably.

And yet, as our world becomes more intertwined with technology, the fight against these influences becomes increasingly necessary. The dangers exist, but the potential for counteractive strategies also increases. We as a society need to be vigilant, combatting misinformation with education, hate speech with public discourse, and AI manipulation with cutting-edge cybersecurity measures.

Ultimately, it’s a glum wake-up call to have to consider the juxtaposition of neo-nazis and AI. But, acknowledging this incongruous love affair is the first step to combating it. After all, the battlefield may be digital, but the stakes are as alarmingly real as they come.

Read the original article here: https://www.wired.com/story/neo-nazis-are-all-in-on-ai/