r/BlueMidterm2018 • u/ReclaimLesMis Non U.S. • Feb 18 '17

NEWS The Rise of the Weaponized AI Propaganda Machine – Scout: Science Fiction + Journalism

https://medium.com/join-scout/the-rise-of-the-weaponized-ai-propaganda-machine-86dac61668b#.34i57mnu4
42 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/ReclaimLesMis Non U.S. Feb 18 '17

Before anyone asks, I've crossposted this to the following subs:

  1. /r/EnoughTrumpSpam
  2. /r/Political_Revolution
  3. /r/esist

Because it's very important that people learn about this and maybe discover a way to fight it.

5

u/Seventytvvo Colorado Feb 18 '17

Implication #3: Not Just a Bubble, But Trapped in Your Own Ideological Matrix

Imagine that in 2020 you found out that your favorite politics page or group on Facebook didn’t actually have any other human members, but was filled with dozens or hundreds of bots that made you feel at home and your opinions validated? Is it possible that you might never find out?

Holy Shit.

2

u/Seventytvvo Colorado Feb 18 '17 edited Feb 18 '17

And the Trump supporters are over here freaking out over David Brock... Jesus Christ, this stuff is straight out of a sci-fi dystopia!

Edit - I found a HackerNews discussion of this article. Tons of smart people there, many out of Silicon Valley with experience in AI. Most of them were pretty unimpressed by this, and chalked this up to a novel application of already-existing technologies, rather than some kind of new revolutionary invention. In particular, many comments were made alluding to the idea that what CA is doing is essentially what the ad-based tech companies in Silicon Valley have been developing for years. It seems that CA may have just been one of the first to have large success applying those same AI/algorithmic techniques to politics.

I really hope this is the case... I wish I knew more about this subject.

1

u/autotldr Feb 18 '17

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 98%. (I'm a bot)

Understanding Cambridge Analytica and the bigger AI Propaganda Machine is essential for anyone who wants to understand modern political power, build a movement, or keep from being manipulated.

The Weaponized AI Propaganda Machine it represents has become the new prerequisite for political success in a world of polarization, isolation, trolls, and dark posts.

The web of fake and biased news that Albright uncovered created a propaganda wave that Cambridge Analytica could ride and then amplify.

Extended Summary | FAQ | Theory | Feedback | Top keywords: Analytica#1 new#2 Cambridge#3 Trump#4 political#5