CBS News is launching a new venture to use AI to identify deep fakes and misinformation

CBS News is launching a new venture aimed at identifying AI-generated deep fakes and misinformation.

CBS News Confirmed, led by Claudia Milne and Ross Dagan, will produce segments based on the findings of a team of journalists analyzing the content.

Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, wrote in a memo to executives that the company “represents an investment in several important areas, including the hiring of forensic journalists, comprehensive training through standards and practices, and new , cutting edge.” the most modern art technology.” She said that vacancies will be advertised in the coming days.

“Technology is changing at an unprecedented rate. And the challenges posed by the rise of generative AI, fake videos and disinformation are too great not to address head on,” McMahon wrote.

The new project comes as networks ramp up their plans to cover the 2024 presidential election amid concerns about the use of AI to manipulate candidates’ images and votes. Last week in the White House, President Joe Biden recalled hearing his own AI-generated, manipulated voice. Biden signed an executive order last week to try to establish safeguards for AI, including setting standards for watermarking original content and identifying AI-generated material.

McMahon’s full memo can be found below:

Hello everyone,

Today, we’re officially launching CBS News Confirmed, a new initiative to combat AI-generated deep fakes and misinformation. This initiative, led by Claudia Milne and Ross Dagan, will bring together a team of highly trained journalists and the latest technology and reporting techniques to vet questionable videos and reports. Ultimately, an important part will be creating segments around our findings and being transparent to the public about how we reach our conclusions.

This is an important initiative that we will implement in the coming months. This represents an investment in several key areas, including the hiring of forensic journalists, comprehensive training based on standards and practices, and new, cutting-edge technology. In the coming days you will come across these new job offers.

Technology is changing at an unprecedented rate. And the challenges posed by the rise of generative AI, fake videos and disinformation are too big to ignore.

I am grateful to the members of our leadership team who have worked hard and are always focused on protecting and ensuring our journalistic credibility.

We look forward to sharing more details with you soon.

Wendy