• AI in Political Ads

    From Mike Powell@1:2320/105 to ALL on Sun May 7 08:28:00 2023
    In the news lately is an early 2024 political advert that shows us a
    possible future if we have four more years of Biden/Harris. The reason
    that it is in the news a lot is because it was (apparently) created using
    AI.

    If the objection was that AI was used to create alleged footage of a past or current event that didn't happen, I would be on board with the criticism. As it is, the advert is depecting a possible future outcome, and is very clear about that (2024 isn't now). I have watched it multiple times and have come to the conclusion that there is nothing any different about it than if someone had sat down with Shotcut and clipped together a bunch of photos and soundbytes, and then added some narration that sounds like it came from a news program.

    That really is *not* anything new. The only difference I can think of
    would be the amount of time it would take AI to do the same vs. humans
    using editing software that is readily available FOSS. I could do that in
    a day or two, with most of the time taken in gathering the source material
    and recording any voice-overs. If I was part of a political organization
    that had resources to get that material together for me, it wouldn't even
    take a day... probably hours.

    So I don't understand the problem with this particular advert, especially
    when some of the people who DO see a problem with it DON'T see a problem
    with the White House editing out of (or INTO) the archives things said
    and done during Presidential press events.

    The only harm I see in this "possible future" advert is that there are so
    many people, left and right, who are so disconnected from reality that they might think these clearly future events have actually already happened. I
    am not sure how much harm that actually does considering whatever else these same folks are going to believe/do/etc., as they've proven they will
    overreact to *anything*.

    The fact that it was done with AI, in this case, seems irrelevant.


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  • From Dale Shipp@1:261/1466 to Mike Powell on Mon May 8 01:23:00 2023
    On 05-07-23 08:28, Mike Powell <=-
    spoke to All about AI in Political Ads <=-
    <<SNIP>>
    The only harm I see in this "possible future" advert is that there are
    so many people, left and right, who are so disconnected from reality
    that they might think these clearly future events have actually already happened. I am not sure how much harm that actually does considering whatever else these same folks are going to believe/do/etc., as they've proven they will overreact to *anything*.

    That has nothing to do with AI. It has to do with people who react to
    anything they are fed -- as you said.

    The fact that it was done with AI, in this case, seems irrelevant.

    I agree with you on your point. Whether or not someone likes that ad
    or not has nothing to do with AI -- it has to do with their mind set,
    far right or far left.

    Personally, I did see a little bit of the ad and quickly dismissed it as typical campaign blather.

    Dale Shipp
    fido_261_1466 (at) verizon (dot) net
    (1:261/1466)


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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Mike Powell on Mon May 8 07:52:56 2023
    Mike Powell wrote to ALL <=-

    So I don't understand the problem with this particular advert,

    The AI wasn't the problem. It was the content. It made me lose my appetite. I want to lose weight, but not on the Socialist Diet.

    The fact that it was done with AI, in this case, seems irrelevant.

    It is - to most of us.

    I will argue that the people who would be displaced by an AI here are mostly the Ignorant Elitists - since they seem to be overly represented in this area.


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  • From Lee Lofaso@2:203/2 to Ron L. on Mon May 8 21:57:03 2023
    Hello Ron,

    So I don't understand the problem with this particular advert,

    The AI wasn't the problem. It was the content. It made me lose my appetite. I want to lose weight, but not on the Socialist Diet.

    Joe Biden looks trim and fit to me. Not so much Donald Trump, who
    does need to lose more than a few pounds. Perhaps a Socialist Diet
    (whatever that is) would do him some good.

    For Life,
    Lee

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  • From Mike Powell@1:2320/105 to DALE SHIPP on Mon May 8 15:48:00 2023
    That has nothing to do with AI. It has to do with people who react to anything they are fed -- as you said.

    Agreed, I don't understand why they were making a big deal about it being AI-generated in the news stories.

    Personally, I did see a little bit of the ad and quickly dismissed it as typical campaign blather.

    Exactly, it is typical campaign-time fare.


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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Mike Powell on Tue May 9 07:56:44 2023
    Mike Powell wrote to DALE SHIPP <=-

    That has nothing to do with AI. It has to do with people who react to anything they are fed -- as you said.

    Agreed, I don't understand why they were making a big deal about it
    being AI-generated in the news stories.

    Because they want to appear "progressive" and not like the technological-backwater that most gov't agencies are.


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  • From Mike Powell@1:2320/105 to RON L. on Tue May 9 16:05:00 2023
    Agreed, I don't understand why they were making a big deal about it being AI-generated in the news stories.

    Because they want to appear "progressive" and not like the technological-backwater that most gov't agencies are.

    Except then I would not expect them to speak of it like it is a bad thing.

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  • From Ron L.@1:120/616 to Mike Powell on Wed May 10 07:41:21 2023
    Mike Powell wrote to Dr. What <=-

    Agreed, I don't understand why they were making a big deal about it being AI-generated in the news stories.

    Because they want to appear "progressive" and not like the technological-backwater that most gov't agencies are.

    Except then I would not expect them to speak of it like it is a bad
    thing.

    It depends on who's doing the speaking.

    For the Elitists with the money, they like the idea of an AI doing the work: cheaper, easier to control, doesn't have the normal human-maintenance problems.

    For the Ignorant Elitists, AI represents change - and they hate that because they really can't think for themselves. So they have a hard time dealing with change.


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