The proliferation of information in today’s world has fueled both the promise and the problem of AI-powered tools that can filter through the noise. According to a new Adobe study titled “Future of Trust,” a complex blend of optimism and mistrust clouds public perception toward generative AI.
Surveying over 1,000 consumers in Australia and New Zealand, the study found that 66% of respondents believe AI technology will ease the process of finding information, and 55% anticipate it will boost their productivity. These benefits translate to individuals spending less time sorting through countless documents and more time focused on vital tasks, promoting creativity.
However, a significant degree of mistrust looms over these optimistic sentiments. Almost half of those surveyed express concerns about generative AI generating false information that could be perceived as factual. Furthermore, 78% predict misinformation and deepfakes will significantly impact future local and foreign elections.
To address these concerns, Adobe launched its new AI assistants, including the Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant. This tool makes document management more efficient by allowing users to interact with their files, generate content and format text with simple commands. It enables users to summarise lengthy reports within seconds, offering improved accuracy as it sources information directly from the document.
Additionally, Adobe introduced the “Content Credentials” feature as an answer to the misinformation problem. Described as a “nutrition label” for digital content, Content Credentials employs cryptography and watermarking to create a tamper-proof record of the original creator of a piece of content and any changes made to it. This feature promises increased transparency but it is yet to be seen if it will adequately address concerns about AI-generated content.
The stakes are increasingly high, not only for corporations like Adobe but for society at large. Of those surveyed, 87% believe there needs to be a collaborative effort by the government and tech companies to safeguard elections from the threat of misinformation. Furthermore, 80% propose a prohibition on political candidates using generative AI in their campaigns.
As technology hurtles forward, reality becomes increasingly blurry with potential for every image and video to be met with skepticism, feeding a growing paranoia around information. The application of Adobe’s Content Credentials to images is one step towards addressing this issue. Though these measures do not provide a definitive solution to the wave of misinformation predicted to escalate in the coming years, they represent a notable beginning.
Adobe’s attempt to counter misinformation through innovative applications of AI like “Content Credentials” aims to foster trust and authenticity in a digital world fraught with falsifications. This initiative signals the beginning of a critical journey towards establishing reliable measures to combat digital deception, especially with looming election seasons worldwide.
