AI-Driven Misinformation Biggest Short-Term Threat To Global Economy

[Karl Semich]

There are 11 articles from other sources redistributed in this Ponoko
marketing. They look somewhat on-topic to the traditional cypherpunks
list to me, given the current state, although looking closer they are
[] very nontechnical.

Here is article 1/11:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/10/ai-driven-misinformation-biggest-short-term-threat-to-global-economy

AI-driven misinformation ‘biggest short-term threat to global economy’

World Economic Forum highlights risk of election interference in year
UK and US go to polls

In its global risks report, the World Economic Forum expresses concern
about AI-driven misinformation influencing 2024 elections. Photograph:
Dado Ruvić/Reuters
Global economy

AI-driven misinformation ‘biggest short-term threat to global economy’

World Economic Forum highlights risk of election interference in year
UK and US go to polls

Business live – latest updates

Larry Elliott Economics editor
Wed 10 Jan 2024 04.52 EST

A wave of artificial intelligence-driven misinformation and
disinformation that could influence key looming elections poses the
biggest short-term threat to the global economy, the World Economic
Forum (WEF) has said.

In a deeply gloomy assessment, the body that convenes its annual
meeting in Davos[1] next week expressed concern that politics could be
disrupted by the spread of false information, potentially leading to
riots, strikes and crackdowns on dissent from governments.

The WEF’s annual risks report[2] – which canvasses the opinion of
1,400 experts – found 30% of respondents thought there was a high risk
of a global catastrophe over the next two years, with two-thirds
fearful of a disastrous event within the next decade.

The WEF said concerns over the persistent cost of living crisis and
the intertwined risks of disinformation and polarised societies
dominated the outlook for 2024.

Elections are taking place this year in countries that represent 60%
of global GDP, including Britain, the US, the EU and India, and the
WEF said the nexus between falsified information and societal unrest
would take centre stage during campaigns.

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information, while
disinformation is deliberately false content, which can be used to
spread propaganda and sow fear and suspicion.

Looking ahead over a longer 10-year period, extreme weather events and
climate change were named as the most pressing risks by the experts
polled by the WEF, which holds its annual meeting in Davos, a Swiss
ski resort.

“An unstable global order characterised by polarising narratives and
insecurity, the worsening impacts of extreme weather and economic
uncertainty are causing accelerating risks – including misinformation
and disinformation – to propagate,” said Saadia Zahidi, a managing
director of the WEF.

“World leaders must come together to address short-term crises as well
as lay the groundwork for a more resilient, sustainable, inclusive
future.”

The report – produced in partnership with Zurich Insurance and the
professional services firm Marsh McLennan – ranks risks over a
two-year and 10-year horizon.

In the short-term, the five biggest risks are perceived to be
misinformation and disinformation; extreme weather events; societal
polarisation; cyber insecurity and interstate armed conflict.

Carolina Klint, chief commercial officer in Europe for Marsh McLennan,
said: “Artificial intelligence breakthroughs will radically disrupt
the risk outlook for organisations with many struggling to react to
threats arising from misinformation, disintermediation and strategic
miscalculation.

“It will take a relentless focus to build resilience at
organisational, country and international levels – and greater
cooperation between the public and private sectors – to navigate this
rapidly evolving risk landscape.”

Klint said AI magnified the threat of widespread use of disinformation
and misinformation, which could result in the legitimacy of elected
governments being questioned. Voters were likely to be targeted by
hostile states and domestic actors, she added.

In the longer term, the five top risks are identified as extreme
weather events; critical change to earth systems; biodiversity loss
and ecosystem collapse; natural resource shortages; and misinformation
and disinformation.

Two-thirds of those polled were worried about extreme weather events
in 2024, but there were differing views on the urgency of the risks
posed. The report said private sector respondents believed that most
environmental risks would materialise over a longer timeframe than
civil society or government, pointing to the growing risk of getting
past a point of no return.

Zahidi said: “This is a very gloomy outlook but it is not a prediction
of the future. The future is very much in our hands.”

1: https://www.theguardian.com/business/davos
2: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2024/in-full/global-risks-2024-at-a-turning-point/#global-risks-2024-at-a-turning-point