AI Presidents
If you spend too much time on the internet, you must have come across AI-generated voice impersonations of former U.S. presidents. This trend involves online creators using AI-generated voices of presidents and celebrities speaking to one another during intense video game plays or in meme animations. This content continues to gain more traction as it’s simple yet captivating.
Although these videos can be entertaining, they can also have an alarming effect on the way we perceive public figures.
For instance, these videos characterize presidents in a particular way: Obama maintains a cool persona, Trump is the asshole while Bush and Biden are portrayed as clumsy individuals.
These videos take our general perceptions of our U.S. presidents and characterize them to be more relatable to ordinary people. It's a format that's evolving too, with new "characters" constantly popping up, such as John F. Kennedy and Ice Spice.
The dialogue depicted in these videos bear resemblance to either a sitcom or an actual conversation.
In one popular video, the four former presidents play UNO! together and bond over their friendship. They bicker and banter as if it's a conversation during a school lunch. Suddenly, John F. Kennedy makes an appearance and things get awkward between the group. As a result, the four former presidents attempted to make John F. Kennedy leave so that everything could return back to normal.
In observing these videos, online creators get creative by adding stutters or making AI repeat words so they sound natural. This feat is impressive and scary.
Amid the absurdity, there is danger. As entertaining as these videos are, they have the potential to change people's perceptions of these public figures. By humanizing former presidents and making them more relatable, people may lose respect for their true role in society.
Powerful technology, such as AI, will have consequences in the future. If a video of Joe Biden playing 90s music with Drake is created to improve our perception of him, imagine how it’ll be used to generate negative sentiment.
With misinformation as a prevalent issue, AI can further enhance our current problems, especially if it remains unchecked. In the future, it might have the potential to determine future election outcomes and sway public opinion in ways we can't predict yet.
Although AI is still in the process of developing, we need to be prepared for the social challenges that will come with it. The use of AI can help push us to exciting boundaries, but there are bound to be some terrifying misuse along the way.
For better or worse, AI will change the world. Although it’s entertaining to watch AI-generated content of presidents arguing with one another, it can have a huge negative influence if carelessly used. As this technology continues to evolve, we need to be mindful of its potential consequences and use it ethically.
Tyler Paulo — April 17th, 2022
