In today's world, technology is changing faster than ever. One of the most talked-about innovations is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can now create incredibly realistic voices and videos, often called "deepfakes." While this technology has creative uses, it also presents serious challenges, especially in politics. What happens when you can no longer trust what you hear? In this lesson, we'll explore a real case where an AI-generated voice was used to interfere in an election, discuss the ethical problems it creates, and debate possible solutions.
Warm-up: Real or Fake?
Your teacher will play two short audio clips. Both clips feature a politician's voice. One is real, and the other is a voice clone created by AI.
Clip A
Clip B
Think-Pair-Share:
- Listen carefully to both clips. Which one do you think is the AI clone?
- What clues in the voice, tone, or wording helped you decide?
- Discuss with a partner, then share your ideas with the class.
Teacher's Note
Clip B is the fake.
Speed-read: The Story Behind the Call
Quickly read the article below to understand a real-world example of voice cloning in politics. Your goal is to find three key facts from the text.
AI-Generated Robocall Targets Voters in U.S. Election
In January 2024, residents in New Hampshire, a state in the USA, received a disturbing phone call. The voice on the call sounded exactly like President Joe Biden. The message, however, was fake. This "robocall" told Democrats not to vote in the state's primary election, falsely claiming it would prevent them from voting in the main election later in the year.
This event quickly became a high-profile example of a "deepfake"—a piece of audio or video that has been altered by AI to show something that never really happened. Authorities investigated the incident and traced the operation to a political consultant. The use of AI to create a voice clone for political purposes raised serious concerns about election integrity.
As a result of this and similar incidents, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took action. On February 8, 2024, the FCC officially declared that using AI-generated voices in robocalls is illegal without prior consent from the person being called. The ruling makes it easier for authorities to stop these deceptive practices. The government agency stated that this technology has the potential to misinform voters and defraud consumers. This decision is a significant step, but the debate continues about what other safeguards are needed to protect the public from the misuse of AI.
AI can mimic human voices with remarkable accuracy.
Key Vocabulary
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