Barron Trump has become a great source of intrigue in his father's second term as President. The 19-year-old NYU student has captured the world's attention despite leading a private life and having limited public appearances. Over the past months, videos showing him singing and playing the guitar have racked up thousands of views from all corners of the internet.
The videos of Barron singing are all made with AI (artificial intelligence), yet they've managed to convince viewers that they're truthful and that Barron shares videos of his musical hobby online. The spread of this misinformation is a common phenomenon in our day and age, when AI footage and images are becoming increasingly easier to make and circulate freely over social media.
Most videos show Barron singing country or Christian music. Accounts like ViVO tunes and GroovyBeat have shared dozens of these clips, adding a disclaimer in the video's description that makes it clear that the video was made with AI. Still, the majority of comments appear to believe that Barron is really out there, posting videos of himself singing Christian music, with viewers praising his voice, his faith, and his belief in America.
"Absolutely Beautiful Voice!!!" reads a comment. "Given by God!!! Keep Singing and Praising God!!! Help Pull America Back to God!!"
"How I love you and your family," wrote a second person. "Prayers and blessings to all."
How to avoid falling for generative AI
Generative AI stands for"generative artificial intelligence," a type of AI that creates new content based on patterns learned from large databases, like the videos and text that make up the internet. It's a technology that's improving rapidly and thus becoming increasingly difficult to spot.
Here are some generative AI red flags according to Better Business Bureaus:
- Unnatural body language is common in these types of videos. Have a careful look at the subject of the video and its surroundings, making sure that shadows and movements follow the rules of the real world.
- Keep an eye out for inconsistencies. While many AI videos and photos appear real on a first look, keep an eye out for any inconsistencies that feel strange and pay close attention to them.
- The audio can be choppy and not synch to the speaker's mouth.
- Stay on top of AI developments! As we delve further into this era of AI, technologies will likely become even more important and effective. If you want to avoid falling for these traps, keep up with AI developments and read the latest news. The more information and tools you have, the better for you and the world.