AI vs. AI: The upcoming arms race against disinformation online
In this article, AIMES Lab Director John Wihbey examines how generative AI is reshaping the dynamics of online safety and disinformation. He outlines a rapidly emerging “AI vs. AI” arms race, where the same technologies capable of producing deepfakes, automated propaganda, and large-scale manipulation also offer unprecedented opportunities to strengthen content moderation and reduce the burden on human reviewers. Prof. Wihbey highlights real-world cases that illustrate the rising stakes-from election-related deepfakes to synthetic images designed to evade detection-and argues that the future of online trust hinges on whether defensive uses of AI can outpace offensive ones. His analysis underscores the urgent need for thoughtful governance as platforms confront both the promise and peril of generative AI.
