AI weaponization has accelerated and can hardly bear the label of a mere technical tool anymore. With widespread misinformation engulfing the modern-day information arena, the flare of AI is but a catalyst, and quite possibly the most disturbing manifestation of this is deepfake.
Scarlett Johansson came out strongly against deepfake technology after a creepy video featuring AI-generated versions of her and fellow Jewish actors Jerry Seinfeld and Mila Kunis surfaced. Watching them wear T-shirts that screamed “Kanye,” the video depicted a middle finger with a Star of David on it.
“I do believe that this hate speech capability multiplied by A.I. is more dangerous than any one person who may try to lay this on their shoulders,” Johansson said to People Magazine. “We need to call out misuse of the A.I. It doesn’t matter what the message says; otherwise, we lose touch with reality.”
As can be expected, AI misuse is becoming a commonplace procedure in media industries. Last year, a journalist in Wyoming was exposed for making up quotes and entire stories using AI. The consequences of this misinformation can be seen, for instance, in various attacks against migrants in the UK energized by AI-generated images regarding a tragic stabbing incident. Deepfake images with xenophobic AI-generated music were consequently viral, closely piloted by algorithms on TikTok.
It is also finding resonance beyond fringe platforms. Wired has reported that search engines powered by AI from Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity found themselves in a quandary for endorsing pseudoscientific racism in their results.
Then Grok-2—an xAI project by Elon Musk—unleashed a freer world of deepfake creation. Immediate images of for example Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump circulated widely. Was this a form of artistic expression-or a grisly assault on democratic discourse?
Escalating activity includes the viral deepfakes of Taylor Swift, of female politicians, some involving minors, which finally threw tech companies onto the active stage. In a paraphrase of AI-Trust Researcher Henry Ajder, “We are at an inflection point where the pressure from lawmakers and awareness among consumers is so great that tech companies can’t ignore the problem anymore.”
Regulations are catching up, but slowly; the UK has banned the creation and distribution of explicit deepfake images without consent. The AI Act has gained traction within the EU, while backing has grown for the US Defiance Act. Meanwhile, Synthesia continues to build hyperreal deepfakes, having characters with moving bodies and gestures.
So,o how do we keep up with the dark side of AI?
AI and the Rise of Financial Fraud
Beyond misinformation, AI is also becoming a central player in financial crime. A British study warns that fake AI-generated news can now trigger panic, even bank runs. Lenders are being urged to enhance monitoring systems to detect when disinformation threatens customer behavior—a proactive measure that’s been urged by analysts and experts alike.
According to Juniper Research, the increase in eCommerce fraud is predicted to rise from $44.3 billion in 2024 to an alarming $107 billion by 2029. This massive increase of 141% indicates how AI is lending sophistication to fraudsters for the fast generation of synthetic identities, believable scam content, and deepfakes sophisticated enough to bypass any verification system.
This threat, along with an increasing number of “friendly fraud” (where consumers themselves commit fraud, such as by refunding claims), is putting extreme pressure on the profitability and cyber defenses of the merchants.
Should AI Be as Open as the Internet?
Not everyone is advocating for restrictions. Meta’s AI chief, Yann LeCun, has publicly urged. In this case, it opens warning that the AI should be developed as openly as the internet; centralization in a few platforms-like ChatGPT or LLaMA-would endanger free thought and democratic access.
“This will be extremely dangerous for diversity of thought, for democracy, for just about everything,” LeCun said.
Yet at more and more human-like AI, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella set a very important distance in talking to the follow-ups. Bloomberg Technology.
“It has got intelligence if you want to give it that moniker,” Nadella explained, “but it’s not the same intelligence that I have.”
Conclusion
It was a wonder of innovation; AI has become a mirror to reflect the best and worst… From influencing political outcomes to carrying out fraud schemes worth billions, the more damaging applications of AI are being given the name of the worst human intent. Deepfakes are erasing the lines of truth; the fraudster is always one step ahead of the protection; thus, this much is now becoming evident. We’re in the midst of a digital arms race.
And Tech Innovations LLC is here to ensure we stay ahead of the curve.
