Post by billhammond on Aug 11, 2024 17:09:52 GMT -5
Excerpt from CNBC:
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday falsely accused his November election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, of using AI technology to fabricate images of the crowd sizes at her rallies, amplifying an unfounded conspiracy to explain the strong enthusiasm for the new Democratic ticket.
“Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she ‘A.I.‘d’ it, and showed a massive ‘crowd’ of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST!” the Republican presidential nominee wrote on Truth Social.
Trump was referring to an image of a large crowd gathered on the tarmac in Michigan on Aug. 7, cheering for Harris as she stepped out of Air Force Two. His comments parroted a false conspiracy that is being spread online by MAGA Republican commentators, some of whom have previously been caught promoting misinformation.
The Harris campaign replied that it is “an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan.” CNBC also licensed a Getty Images photo for the story that matches the photos being circulated.
The Harris campaign also used the opportunity to point out the contrast between Harris’ campaign schedule over the past week and Trump’s: “Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week... Low energy?”
The false allegation from Trump lands in the middle of an election where huge advances in AI tools have eased the process of spreading misinformation. This makes it more difficult than ever for voters to discern reality from internet conspiracy.
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday falsely accused his November election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, of using AI technology to fabricate images of the crowd sizes at her rallies, amplifying an unfounded conspiracy to explain the strong enthusiasm for the new Democratic ticket.
“Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she ‘A.I.‘d’ it, and showed a massive ‘crowd’ of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST!” the Republican presidential nominee wrote on Truth Social.
Trump was referring to an image of a large crowd gathered on the tarmac in Michigan on Aug. 7, cheering for Harris as she stepped out of Air Force Two. His comments parroted a false conspiracy that is being spread online by MAGA Republican commentators, some of whom have previously been caught promoting misinformation.
The Harris campaign replied that it is “an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan.” CNBC also licensed a Getty Images photo for the story that matches the photos being circulated.
The Harris campaign also used the opportunity to point out the contrast between Harris’ campaign schedule over the past week and Trump’s: “Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week... Low energy?”
The false allegation from Trump lands in the middle of an election where huge advances in AI tools have eased the process of spreading misinformation. This makes it more difficult than ever for voters to discern reality from internet conspiracy.
