Former US President Donald Trump recently made headlines for his request to be photographed in handcuffs after being allegedly involved in a bribery case. According to sources close to the businessman, he wanted to turn the situation into a media spectacle if he were indicted for the alleged payment in exchange for porn actress Stormy Daniels’ silence. The request was fulfilled, thanks to the help of artificial intelligence.
The photos of Trump being arrested quickly went viral on the internet, with many believing them to be real. However, it turned out to be a prank by journalist Eliot Higgins, founder, and creative director of the investigative news consortium Bellingcat, with the help of an AI tool called Midjourney. Higgins’ prank showed how AI tools can be both good and bad, and how they can be used to manipulate reality.
The use of AI in creating the fake images of Trump’s arrest highlights the power of these tools in creating realistic simulations. It also underscores the potential risks associated with their use, particularly in creating fake news and propaganda. However, Higgins believes that the lack of critical thinking skills among the general public is a more significant issue.
According to Higgins, the images of Trump being arrested demonstrate how AI tools can have both sides. In one of the images, Trump is depicted with three legs and a police belt. While Higgins assumed that people would notice that Trump only has two legs, many still believed the photos to be real, highlighting the lack of critical thinking skills in society.
Higgins’ prank was not the first time AI tools were used to create fake images. In recent years, deepfake technology has gained notoriety for its ability to manipulate images and videos to make them look real. This technology has raised concerns about the potential use of fake images and videos in political campaigns and other settings.
The use of AI in creating fake images of Donald Trump’s arrest highlights the potential risks and rewards of AI tools. While AI has the potential to create realistic simulations, it also underscores the need for critical thinking skills to prevent the spread of fake news and propaganda.