Microsoft President Brad Smith has expressed concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) being used to spread disinformation in the upcoming European Parliamentary elections.
Smith revealed that Microsoft has invested heavily in AI infrastructure in Sweden to tackle the issue, while acknowledging the growing use of AI-generated deepfakes in elections globally, including in India, the United States, Pakistan, and Indonesia. However, he noted that Microsoft has not detected any significant attempts to exploit AI in the European Parliamentary elections.
Despite the lack of widespread abuse, Smith urged caution, stating that the situation is ongoing and that premature declarations of victory would be unwarranted. He also highlighted the potential threat posed by deepfake videos, citing instances during India’s general election and a debunked Russian-language video circulated ahead of the European Parliament election.
Smith also mentioned the focus of Russian efforts on the Olympics and hinted at an upcoming report addressing related concerns.