There is no spoon

Author

Tech Reframed
October 01, 2023

There is no spoon, right?

I recently found myself rewatching The Matrix. While in The Construct, Neo (played by Keanu Reeves) questions Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburne) about the nature of reality and whether what he is seeing and experiencing is real.

“What is real? How do you define 'real'? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then 'real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain,” is the question that Morpheus poses to Neo. 

I know that a conversation about AI and data privacy, prefaced by a quote from The Matrix, sounds very eccentric and kooky, but hear me out.

The question “What is a photo?” Has been bandied about by many in the tech media space over the past few months. Prior to the launch of the Pixel 8 series with its embedded AI capabilities, the internet collectively raised questions about Samsung using AI to enhance details of moon images shot with its devices (Do Galaxy phones take fake Moon photos? Here's what Samsung says. - Android Authority).

While editing images is nothing new, it was something that previously required specialist skills and tools. Thanks to AI, all you need to do is tap a button and you’ll have an image that you didn’t actually capture. The ease and simplicity with which we can create and share our own realities is wonderful for creativity, but, incorrectly used, crosses the boundary between fact and fiction.

This ability to blur the lines between fact and fiction becomes a problem when used for the wrong reasons, such as spreading misinformation and disinformation.

Rumours, misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information are common challenges confronting media of all types. It is, however, worse in the case of digital media, especially on social media platforms. Ease of access and use, speed of information diffusion, and difficulty in correcting false information make control of undesirable information a horrid task says the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

In 2022 The World Economic Forum reported that “disinformation has a growing hold on the world,” and in recent weeks, we’ve gotten to see real-world examples of that. While X (formerly known as Twitter) owner, Elon Musk, has been sharing conspiracy theories, Adweek has reported that verified accounts on X (formerly Twitter) spread nearly two-thirds of wartime disinformation. This is despite the fact that X (formerly known as Twitter) CEO, Linda Yaccarino continuously dismisses concerns over the platform’s moderation efforts (or lack thereof).

While the rise in misinformation (misleading information presented as fact) and disinformation (intentionally false information) is not caused by AI, it’s certainly exacerbated by the rise and proliferation of generative AI. 

Tech YouTuber, Cleo Abrams has a great channel called Huge if True. In a recent YouTube Shorts video, she showcased how AI can be used to make it seem like she’s speaking in a language that she does not speak (https://youtube.com/shorts/rjVTe_5HXow?si=zFEmUEvp1tJZcFKk) in real-time. In a separate video, renowned tech YouTuber, Marques Brownlee showcased Google’s Pixel 8 series which includes AI tech built into the handset —Google Pixel 8/8 Pro Review: We'll Fix It In Post! — that gives users the ability to completely change an image and ultimately create an image that never actually existed, as well as the ability to easily remove watermarks. 

These uses of AI to change and create images are contributing to a world where we can’t trust what we see or hear, making the phrase “seeing is believing” a thing of the past. 

While there is a great need for governance and more work that needs to be done on responsible and ethical AI, we also need to look at what we, as individuals, can do to not only slow down the spread of misinformation and disinformation, but to also protect our data more securely.

“Generative AI has given rise to a new generation of cyber threats. Hackers have more opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities—and more ways to execute their malicious campaigns,” says IBM.

As cybersecurity awareness month draws to a close, here are a few tips to not only help keep your data safe but to also help you slow the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

Security:

  • Use Passkeys: #CybersecurityMonth: What are Passkeys and why is it the future of online security? (bizcommunity.com)

  • Turn on 2FA (two-factor authentication). Microsoft Authenticator is one of my personal favourites.

  • Don’t click on questionable links; double-check the URL — by hovering over the link or long-pressing the text on mobile — to make sure the website or app is legitimate; and make sure the URL begins with “https.”

  • Make sure that your devices are secure by not leaving them unlocked and by not using the same passwords across devices or accounts.

  • Ensure that your software and apps are up to date.

  • Back up your data securely.

Stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation

  • Don’t immediately hit the share button. Verify the authenticity of something by checking it against multiple sources before sharing.

  • Don’t always trust verified accounts. Confirm whether the source is either on the ground or a confirmed expert in that specific field.

  • Assemble a collection of trusted sources. 

  • Zoom in on images to see whether things like text on billboards or human hands look nonsensical or fake. 

  • Learn how to spot a fake video: How to spot a fake video - The Washington Post

  • Use fact-checking platforms like Africa Check: https://africacheck.org/

  • The World Health Organisation has a great page detailing how to report misinformation and disinformation on various social media platforms: How to report misinformation online (who.int)

“Companies such as Google and Facebook are trying hard to stamp out fake news, but they can’t do it alone; everyone needs to play their part,” says Richard Bowyer, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Derby.

As technology continues to evolve at a previously unseen pace and impacts our world in new ways, we need to stop looking at online and the physical world as two separate things and instead look at how interconnected and interwoven they are and give ourselves enough tools and knowledge to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and that means developing a basic understanding of how technology impacts our lives. 

In other tech news:

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One entry per email address. The winner will be announced on 10 December 2023. The winner will have 48 hours to confirm the delivery address for the prize once contacted via email by Tech Reframed. Delivery of the prize will be arranged by EcoFlow and is subject to possible delays as it is being shipped from an international location.

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