Last week, two Buddhist communities issued statements warning members to be on the lookout for illegitimate “deepfake” videos — AI-powered videos that can reliably show someone has have said or done something that they have not done. Mentoring teachers.
Maybe you've seen this type of thing: a familiar figure has suddenly appeared on your screen. It looks genuine at first glance, but look closer, and you'll notice, for example, that the words don't match the speaker's mouth. And, of course, this person is strongly endorsing a product, when you know they would never do that. Or, maybe you've seen this type and been fooled. With AI learning and improving itself all the time, we're all going to get stupid sooner or later.
ChatGPT has been around for just two years, putting artificial intelligence in the hands of the masses and accelerating the use of AI in the personal, organizational, and corporate spheres. We've already seen plenty of discussion and use of AI in the Buddhist world, with non-human priests being created to share the teachings of the Dharma, or mindfulness being taught as such, and The wisest minds in the community are taking the time to address the potential dangers of AI.
Among these threats is AI's growing facility with learning from and mimicking real-life data so that their personalities can be used in unauthorized and unhelpful ways. And in fact, that's what two communities—the Tiger Asia Foundation, part of Mangyur Rinpoche's community, and the Dongyu Gotselling Nunnery in India, of which Jetsinma Tenzen Palmu is the director—are now telling us, with their leading figures. what has happened.
“It has come to our notice,” reads Trigger Asia's statement, “that some of the many AI-generated videos now being shared on the Internet appear to show Mangyur Rinpoche discussing topics such as life and relationships. are unrelated to its teachings on awareness, compassion and wisdom. Some of the content is also contrary to the teachings of the Buddha Dharma and can lead to confusion and confusion among practitioners.”
The Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery is for Himalayan women in the Drukpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In its statement titled “Regarding AI-Generated/Deepfake Videos,” DGLN similarly reported that “some unscrupulous sources are using Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's likeness for endorsement and/or self-promotion.”
The two Buddhist communities in question have shared some good common sense advice to consider when facing an AI/deepfake situation. Their clues boil down to:
- Be sure of the source you are looking at.
- If you see misinformation, do what you can to flag it so others who encounter it know to ignore it. “For example,” writes DGLN, if you watch a video where Jetsunma [Tenzin Palmo] Speaking in a foreign language (not English), saying something that is against the values of Buddhism, openly asking for money or endorsing a product or brand that is incompatible with Jetsunma's activities. be completely disconnected; Take this as a clear red flag and be careful about it.
- Report any suspected deepfake activity to the community of the teacher or figure whose image is being misused.
To learn more about the potential promise and pitfalls of AI in the Buddhist world, read “What AI Means for Buddhism” Lion's roar Magazine