AI-generated disinformation tops global risks in World Economic Forum’s 2024 report

In its 2024 global risks report, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked AI-generated disinformation and misinformation as one of the negative most severe global risks anticipated over the next two years.

“Misinformation and disinformation is a new leader of the top 10 rankings this year. No longer requiring a niche skill set, easy-to-use interfaces to large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models have already enabled an explosion in falsified information and so-called ‘synthetic’ content, from sophisticated voice cloning to counterfeit websites,” the WEF report states, noting efforts by governments to set regulations to counter the risks.

Surveyed in September 2023, 53% of respondents said AI-generated misinformation and disinformation is likely to present a material crisis on a global scale in 2024.

Extreme weather (66%) was ranked as the top risk faced in 2024, while Societal and/or political polarization was ranked at (46%).

Cost of living crisis (42%) and Cyberattacks (39%) were also among the top global risks in 2024.

The respondents believe that disinformation and misinformation will be severe over the next two years.

The civil society, academia, and private sector believe that disinformation and misinformation will be severe.

This, the report states, has the possibility of affecting electoral processes in several economies over the next two years.

“Misinformation and disinformation has risen rapidly in rankings to first place for the two-year time frame, and the risk is likely to become more acute as elections in several economies take place this year (2024),” the report published on January 10, 2024 states.

The WEF report also notes that perceptions of reality are likely to become more polarized, infiltrating the public discourse on issues ranging from public health to social justice.

“Synthetic content will manipulate individuals, damage economies and fracture societies in numerous ways over the next two years,” the Global Risks report states.

The growing popularity of AI applications and tools has raised serious concerns about increased misinformation and disinformation through the manipulation of media content and the creation of deep fakes.