A United Nations agency has warned that developments in artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to a new wave of Holocaust denial.
A report released Tuesday by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, concluded that AI could help spread false and misleading claims about the Holocaust online.
The report suggests this is either the result of a flaw in computer programming or that hate groups and Holocaust deniers are deliberately using AI to generate content that falsely casts doubt on the Nazi murder of Jews and other groups.
One of the biggest concerns is that AI could be used to create so-called deepfakes of the Holocaust – realistic images or videos that can be used to claim that the Holocaust never happened or has been exaggerated.
It could lead to the spread of anti-Semitism and a lack of understanding of a key moment in 20th century history.
The report noted that some AI-assisted programs allow users to interact with simulated historical figures, including prominent Nazis like Adolf Hitler.
“If we allow the irresponsible use of AI to dilute, distort or falsify the horrific facts of the Holocaust, we risk an explosion of anti-Semitism and a slow erosion of our understanding of the causes and consequences of these atrocities,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement accompanying the report.
The widespread use of AI to assist with teaching, research, and writing increases the potential for public misconceptions about the Holocaust to be amplified, even unintentionally, by unreliable data and artificial intelligence “hallucinations.”
AI programs that understand the world based on a relatively narrow set of sources may also return incomplete or misleading answers when asked about the Holocaust.
Umesko's report called on technology companies to establish ethical rules for the development and use of AI to reduce the likelihood of unreliable information and prevent bad actors from using AI programs to incite violence or spread lies about the Holocaust.
The report was published in collaboration with the World Jewish Congress.
