The human ability to distinguish fact from fiction is slowly eroding because AI is getting better and better at spreading misinformation. Knowing how scammers use AI to trick you is great until it becomes a different type of scam. Anti-solar farm groups have rallied around claims that these renewable energy installations can cause all sorts of dangers, ranging from the semi-reasonable to the ridiculous (claiming that they go against the laws of physics). These include “warnings” about toxic smoke, leaks of cancer-causing chemicals and even mini-tornadoes.
Additionally, there has been an increase in “memes” on social media sites. Many follow the same formula: Place a sign that says “Once (insert state here) is gone, there is no way to get it back. Solar panels belong on roofs, not farmland” in front of a farm. This is all the result of AI (especially the accounts that generate and share them), and experts say fears that solar panels will cause local tornadoes and ruin property values are completely unfounded. However, the damage has already been done.
Last year, a project to install solar panels in the Acadiana region of Louisiana (better known as Cajun Country) was effectively derailed by citizens who unwittingly repeated AI-generated misinformation during council meetings. They cited fires and toxic chemical runoff as their main concerns, and although the council decided to restrict any large-scale solar projects within a half-mile of residential areas, the decision demolished any plans for an Acadiana solar project. All because hundreds of scared people believed in AI rather than their own research.
Never underestimate the power of mob mentality
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The anti-solar farm “meme” (yes, AI models can now create memes, but not good ones) uses a specific template that can apply to any state, and the misinformation spreads beyond geographic locations. Wherever there is an energy industry to destabilize, the fallout from AI is not far behind. Wind farms, particularly offshore ones, are another popular target of disinformation campaigns – both AI and human.
Many of these campaigns revolve around the alleged threats they pose to wildlife, fueling claims that wind farms are leading to mass deaths of whales and birds. In many cases, the misinformation comes from organizations with ties to fossil fuel companies or climate change deniers. To make matters worse, these campaigns are not limited to a single continent; Similar attempts to cancel and delay wind farm projects have been seen in Australia and European countries. The extent to which these movements rely on AI to concoct disinformation and posts varies from campaign to campaign.
Disinformation campaigns really raise the question of whether AI deserves free speech. On the one hand, the misinformation it creates is not illegal per se, but on the other hand, the lies generated by AI convince people to vote against their best interests. It’s quite an enigma.
