AI deepfakes and misinformation surrounding elections 'inevitable', says electoral commission CEO

Art O’Leary, CEO of the Electoral Commission. Picture: Moya Nolan

It is “inevitable” that deepfake AI videos of Irish politicians aimed at misleading the public and undermining the integrity of our elections will surface in the coming years, the head of Ireland’s electoral commission has said.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin chief executive Art O’Leary said that the “potential here is off the charts” when it comes to fake content created with artificial intelligence, in the wake of a realistic-looking video of President Catherine Connolly announcing her “withdrawal” from the election just a few days before polling day.