Elon Musk shares Kamala Harris voice clone video ad

Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared online a video featuring an AI-generated voice clone of US Vice-President Kamapa Harris saying things she had never said, raising concerns about AI-generated political misinformation. 

Designed to resemble a campaign ad, the video included audio of "Harris" making statements she never actually said, such as calling herself a "diversity hire" and criticising her own qualifications for the presidency. It also called Harris a "deep state puppet".

The video was originally created by YouTuber "Mr. Reagan", who labeled it as a parody. However, Musk's post to X, which he owns and included the caption "This is amazing," failed to clarify that it was satire, leading to widespread confusion among viewers. Musk's post contravened X's own policies. 

Critics argue that satirical and parody content can mislead the public and undermine the integrity of elections, as many may not recognise it as a joke unless clearly labelled as such. Musk responded by saying that parody is legal in the US. 

The incident prompted calls for stricter regulation on AI-generated content, with lawmakers in California, including Assembly Member Mark Berman, advocating for measures to identify and manage deepfake content during political elections. 

The situation highlights the growing concerns over the potential misuse of AI technology in politics, particularly as it becomes more accessible and sophisticated. The US Presidential elections are due to take place early November 2024.