Trump Voters Utilize AI to Target Black Supporters Amid Obama-Biden Mix-Up

Key Takeaways

• AI images are being circulated to voters, aimed at black communities.
• Former President Trump mistakenly referred to Barack Obama when he intended to mention Joe Biden.
• Donald Trump’s gaffe sparks fresh scrutiny over his suitability for the presidency.

BBC Panorama reported  AI-generated images showing Donald Trump surrounded by Black people are being circulated by his supporters despite there being no direct link to Trump’s official campaign.

The recent Trump images follow widespread concern over the use of AI to misrepresent high-profile individuals and their use as political tactics.

Disinformation Tactics

The investigation  by BBC Panorama exposed the AI-generated fake images of black voters with former President Trump.

According to the BBC, the AI-generated images were created and shared by voters. These images, lacking any direct affiliation with Trump’s campaign, appear to be a strategic attempt to enhance Trump’s appeal among Black communities.

Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, said in the investigation, there appeared to be a revival in the use of disinformation strategies targeting the Black community, reminiscent of tactics seen in the 2020 election.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Concurrently, Donald Trump confused Barack Obama for Joe Biden at a rally in Virginia. The blunder, not an isolated incident but one of several in recent months, prompted a hushed reaction from the crowd and has fueled further debate over the implications of his potential re-election.

At the rally, Donald Trump  mistakenly referred to Barack Obama instead of Joe Biden, stating, “Putin has so little respect for Obama that he’s starting to throw around the nuclear word.”

Social Media Facilitates Deepfake Face Swaps

The most common technique for creating Deepfakes is through face swap technology.

According to a report  by the US Homeland Security, “apps like Snapchat and TikTok offer dramatically lowered computational and expertise requirements that allow users to generate various manipulations in real-time.”

As AI technology grows more sophisticated, its potential for misuse in shaping political narratives becomes a significant concern.

The highlighted incidents with Trump involve elements of mistruth, providing a complicated political landscape that voters will have to navigate in the upcoming US elections.

The US Supreme Court determined today that Donald Trump can stay on the presidential ballot, overturning a previous decision by Colorado to ban him.

About the Author

Samantha Dunn

Samantha started as a traditional writer and journalist before falling down the Web3 rabbit hole. She now explores the ways in which emerging technology is impacting economies, industries, and the individual.

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