AI
Russian Influence Operation Likely Used ElevenLabs' AI Voice
2024-12-10
Generative AI has emerged as a powerful tool with both remarkable capabilities and potential for misuse. In recent times, it has been found to be involved in various activities, including those related to state influence operations. This article delves into the details of how generative AI is being used and the implications it holds.

Uncovering the Dark Side of Generative AI in State Affairs

Well-Documented Misuses of Generative AI

Generative AI has a long history of well-documented misuses. It has been used to create academic papers that are not genuine and to copy the works of artists. This shows the unethical side of this technology. For example, there have been cases where generative AI has been used to produce fake research papers that seem legitimate at first glance but are actually plagiarized. Such misuses not only undermine the integrity of academia but also harm the creative industries.Another example is in the field of art. Generative AI has been used to create paintings and sculptures that imitate the style of famous artists. This not only takes away the originality of the artists but also dilutes the value of their work. In some cases, these AI-generated artworks have been sold at high prices, which is a clear indication of the potential for misuse.

Russian-Tied Campaign and AI-Generated Voiceovers

One recent campaign that has drawn attention is a Russian-tied operation dubbed "Operation Undercut." This campaign was designed to undermine Europe's support for Ukraine and prominently used AI-generated voiceovers on fake or misleading "news" videos. The videos targeted European audiences and attacked Ukrainian politicians as corrupt or questioned the usefulness of military aid to Ukraine.For instance, one video claimed that "even jammers can't save American Abrams tanks," which was a blatant attempt to undermine the support for Ukraine. The report states that the video creators "very likely" used voice-generated AI, including ElevenLabs tech, to make their content appear more legitimate. To verify this, Recorded Future's researchers submitted the clips to ElevenLabs' own AI Speech Classifier and got a match.Although ElevenLabs did not respond to requests for comment, the use of AI in this campaign highlights the potential for misuse. It also shows how easily such misinformation can be spread through the use of advanced technology.

Inadvertent Showcase of AI Voice Generation

The influence campaign's own orchestrators inadvertently showcased the usefulness of AI voice generation. Some videos released by them had real human voiceovers with a discernible Russian accent, while the AI-generated voiceovers spoke in multiple European languages like English, French, German, and Polish, with no foreign-sounding accents.This shows how AI can be used to create content that appears more natural and legitimate. It also highlights the need for careful monitoring and regulation of AI technology to prevent its misuse.

AI's Role in Multilingual Misinformation

According to Recorded Future, AI allowed for the misleading clips to be quickly released in multiple languages spoken in Europe like English, German, French, Polish, and Turkish. This shows the speed and efficiency with which AI can be used to spread misinformation on a global scale.All these languages are supported by ElevenLabs, which further emphasizes the potential for misuse. The ability to quickly generate and release content in multiple languages makes it easier for misinformation to spread and have a wider impact.

Attribution and Impact

Recorded Future attributed the activity to the Social Design Agency, a Russia-based organization that was sanctioned by the U.S. government. This shows the extent to which state actors are using generative AI to further their agendas.However, the overall impact of the campaign on public opinion in Europe was minimal, according to Recorded Future. This shows that while generative AI can be used to spread misinformation, it may not always have the desired effect.

Previous Incidents and Company Responses

This isn't the first time ElevenLabs' products have been singled out for alleged misuse. The company's tech was behind a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden that urged voters not to go out and vote during a primary election. In response, ElevenLabs said it released new safety features like automatically blocking voices of politicians.ElevenLabs bans "unauthorized, harmful, or deceptive impersonation" and uses various tools to enforce this, such as automated and human moderation. This shows the company's efforts to address the issue of misuse and ensure the responsible use of its technology.

Growth and Investors of ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs has experienced explosive growth since its founding in 2022. It recently grew ARR to $80 million from $25 million less than a year earlier and may soon be valued at $3 billion. Its investors include Andreessen Horowitz and former Github CEO Nat Friedman.This growth shows the potential of generative AI and the interest of investors in this technology. However, it also highlights the need for proper regulation and oversight to ensure that this technology is used for good and not for harm.
OSL Trading Time: Cryptocurrency Market Turmoil & Govt/Inst BTC Layout
2024-12-11
The cryptocurrency market has been in a state of flux recently, with significant changes in key data and trends. This joint effort by PANews and OSL aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the market.

Uncover the Hidden Insights of the Cryptocurrency Market

Market Observation

The cryptocurrency market has witnessed a major upheaval, with the overall market value seeing a decline of over $250 billion. Bitcoin, a prominent player, depreciated by 5% to reach $95,519. Ethereum, which had been on a high, also took a significant hit and fell from its recent peak to $3,500. This volatility has not only affected the prices of these digital currencies but has also led to notable movements among industry insiders.For instance, Ethereum researcher Max Resnick made a bold move by leaving Ethereum and joining the Solana camp. This decision sparked discussions and speculations within the industry. Additionally, Tron founder Justin Sun sold his Ethereum portfolio worth approximately $119.7 million after Ethereum broke through the $4,000 mark. Such actions have triggered widespread market speculation about his investment strategies.However, despite these seemingly negative signals, the cryptocurrency sector is still showing positive developments. At the government level, a Russian lawmaker proposed the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve to deal with sanctions. This indicates that digital assets are gradually being integrated into the global financial strategy. In the corporate world, the acceptance of Bitcoin is on the rise. With the support of the National Center for Public Policy, Amazon shareholders proposed converting at least 5% of the company's assets into Bitcoin. Microsoft has also considered a similar plan. Cryptocurrency mining company Riot Platforms plans to raise $500 million for Bitcoin acquisitions through private placement of convertible senior notes, highlighting the continued confidence of institutions in the cryptocurrency market.From a market analysis perspective, Tom Lee, an analyst at Fundstrat, pointed out that the recent rise in Bitcoin may suggest a future strength in the S&P 500 index. This judgment is based on the current high risk appetite of investors. He also emphasized the correlation between Bitcoin and the U.S. stock index, which helps explain the possible connection between the current Bitcoin pullback and the stock market decline. It is worth noting that the Indian company Jetking Infotrain purchased 12 Bitcoins, becoming the first listed company in the country to hold Bitcoin. This move is particularly significant in India's strict regulatory environment and may open up new prospects for the development of cryptocurrencies in the region.

Key Data (as of 09:42 HKT, December 11)

The S&P 500 stands at 6,034.91 with a year-to-date increase of 26.52%. The Nasdaq is at 19,687.24, showing a year-to-date growth of 31.15%. The 10-year Treasury yield is 4.235%, with a year-to-date increase of 21.01 basis points. The US dollar index is 106.058, up 4.64% year-to-date. Bitcoin is priced at $96,094.72, with a year-to-date increase of 127.36% and a daily spot volume of $103.89 billion. Ethereum is at $3,573.56, with a year-to-date growth of 56.64% and a daily spot volume of $56.27 billion.

ETF Flows (December 10 EST)

(No specific ETF flow details provided in the original article, so no content added here.)

Important Dates (Hong Kong Time)

Non-farm payrolls are at 09:30 p.m. on December 6, with the actual value being 227,000, the previous value being 36,000, and the expected value being 200,000. The unemployment rate is at 09:30 p.m. on December 6. The core inflation annual rate is at 09:30 p.m. on December 11, and the annual inflation rate is also at 09:30 p.m. on December 11. The PPI monthly rate is at 09:30 p.m. on December 12.

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Author: 交易时刻This article reflects the opinions of PANews's columnist and does not represent the stance of PANews. PANews does not assume legal responsibility. The article and opinions do not constitute investment advice.

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Nielsen: November TV Viewing Highlights & Streaming Records
2024-12-11
According to Nielsen's The Gauge report, November witnessed a remarkable nine-month high in TV viewing time in the US. This surge of 5 per cent compared to October marked the largest monthly viewing total since February. The impact on TV viewership during this November interval was primarily driven by sports, the presidential election, and live streaming, each influencing viewing categories in separate weeks.

Uncover the Factors Behind US TV Viewing Spikes in November

Sports and Broadcast Viewing

In November, broadcast viewing saw a significant 3 per cent increase, accounting for 23.7 per cent of total TV viewing time. The first week of the month was particularly dominant for the broadcast category, featuring Games 3, 4, and 5 of the MLB World Series on Fox, along with the regular slate of NFL and college football games. The combined viewing minutes of the final three World Series games exceeded 10 billion, and the Dodgers' victory in Game 5 attracted 18.2 million viewers, making it the sixth most watched broadcast telecast. This concentrated week of broadcast sporting events boosted the category's share to 24.9 per cent in the first week, and increased broadcast sports viewing by 34 per cent over October.

Presidential Election and Cable Viewing

The coverage of the presidential election in the second week of the month led to viewing increases, especially for cable. Although cable ended November with a 25 per cent share of viewing, its share during the election week jumped to 26.5 per cent. Much of this increase was attributed to cable news. Interestingly, cable news viewing only rose by 1 per cent monthly but climbed from 36 billion to 48 billion viewing minutes between weeks one and two (+32 per cent), resulting in a share boost.

Streaming Viewing Trends

Streaming viewership witnessed a substantial 7.6 per cent increase in November, reaching a record share of 41.6 per cent (+1.1 pt.). Some of this growth can be attributed to viewers seeking refuge from the unusual, election-driven news cycle covered by traditional TV networks. During the third week of the interval, the streaming category reached 42.6 per cent of TV viewing. Netflix also experienced peak viewership during this week, hitting 8.5 per cent of TV (compared to its overall monthly share of 7.7 per cent). This peak coincided with the live-streamed Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match and was fueled by viewing of its original series The Lincoln Lawyer, which had 3.9 billion viewing minutes and was the most watched streaming programme.

Streaming Service Highlights

Three streaming services achieved platform-best shares in November. The Roku Channel saw a 12 per cent increase to 1.9 per cent of TV. Prime Video had a 10 per cent rise to 3.7 per cent of TV. YouTube secured a new category record with 10.8 per cent of TV. Peacock, although falling short of its Olympics-driven platform record, still had the largest monthly increase among streamers at 1.5 per cent (+0.2 pt.). Peacock's significant increase was partly due to Despicable Me 4, which generated 1.5 billion viewing minutes and a 58 per cent increase in kids viewing on the platform.
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