AI-Generated Content - Policy

Did you see that video where giants are helping build the pyramids? I wonder how they managed to video record that.

Well, the video is obviously fake and AI-generated. But, our concern is not with the content that is clearly AI-generated. Our concern is with the content that cannot be detected as AI-generated without some effort.

But, is the problem of fake content new? Absolutely not.

For years, doctored videos and other manipulated media have been used to spread misinformation, commit fraud, or simply defame someone. The difference now is that AI allows for the creation of fake content more quickly and cheaply, leading to an expected surge in AI-generated material.

Not all of it will be harmful (eg. AI-generated adverts, online courses, games, movies, etc), but misuse of the technology can have serious consequences. We've already seen deepfakes used to defame celebrities and promote scams. This problem may grow to unimaginable proportions.

So, how should we address it?

Well, one knee-jerk reaction can be to ban AI-generated content altogether.

This policy can be as effective as the ban on liquor in the years of prohibition. To summarize, bans on liquor do not work .?

Why??

Well, if there is enough demand for something, supply always finds a way.?

Likewise, a ban on AI-generated content can drastically backfire. How?

A ban on AI-generated content would likely restrict those who intend to use the technology responsibly while leaving the field open for bad actors who are already operating outside the legal framework.

Another side effect of such a ban is that it would hamper the development of the very technologies and frameworks that can help us deal with the detrimental effects of AI-powered content generation.?

Legitimate players, by generating AI content at scale, would have incentives to invest in AI-generated content detection and management technologies. Their involvement would also allow them to understand AI-generated content better and contribute to technological solutions. Policymakers can collaborate with these players to regulate the industry's growth.

Okay, but how can we deal with AI content generated by toxic players?

While there can be many solutions, in the book "The Age of Decentralization " I briefly suggested a solution, albeit in a different context, that can be used to deal with the issues caused by AI generated content. We will discuss the framework in the next article.