Concerns are growing about whether federal laws are adapting quickly enough to artificial intelligence, especially in light of recent AI-generated fake photos of pop star Taylor Swift.
Fake sexually explicit and abusive images of Swift began circulating widely last week on X, making her the most famous victim of a scourge that tech platforms and anti-abuse groups have struggled to address.
Her ardent “Swifties” fans quickly mobilized, launching a counteroffensive on the platform formerly known as Twitter and a #ProtectTaylorSwift hashtag to flood it with more positive images of the pop star. Some said they were reporting accounts sharing deepfakes.
RELATED: X suspends some Taylor Swift searches as fake explicit images spread
“There is no question that we need to keep an eye on the ethical and legal implications of artificial intelligence,” Bill Flanagan, president of the University of Alberta, told CityNews.
“It’s moving very quickly, so it’s important that the federal government and the Alberta government are also very engaged in issues like data privacy. »
The University of Australia partners with Amazon Web Services to launch Artificial Intelligence Discovery Place. The goal is to make AI skills more accessible to Edmonton’s tech sector and position the province as a leader in AI.
“We believe AI will have enormous potential applications in industry, education, business and research,” Flanagan said. “The University of Alberta is therefore at the forefront of research to advance AI. »
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner voiced her concerns about X last week.
“The problem is that these images were generated with artificial intelligence,” she said in a video posted on the platform. “And there are gaps in the laws of many countries, including Canada, regarding intimate images generated by artificial intelligence, and these gaps need to be closed.”
Rempel has argued for tighter controls on artificial intelligence in Parliament, saying not everyone has “legions of Swifties to come to their defense online”. She says it’s a “problem for all Canadians.”
“Can you imagine your ex circulating AI-created images of you that you can’t really tell the difference from online. This is why the Liberal government must act now on this issue.
Given how quickly technology is changing, the president of the University of Alberta says governments must try to keep up.
“It’s important that the federal government and the Alberta government are also very engaged in issues like data privacy,” Flanagan said. “Some interesting and complex questions arise, and it is very important that not only government, but also universities, think about the ethical and legal implications of AI. »
Flanagan believes this is the beginning of artificial intelligence unlocking its potential.
“I think the potential impact is extraordinary, so we’re going to see that and it’s going to touch all of our lives,” he said. “I would say it’s early days and the University of Alberta is well ahead.
“It’s going fast, there’s no doubt about it. The advances in AI are truly impressive and the potential applications to improve our lives and improve the way we live are enormous.
