GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Thursday, CNN released a scathing report on Robinson connecting Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to several racist and sexually graphic comments he allegedly made on a porn forum more than a decade ago. The report claimed Robinson referred to himself as a "black NAZI" and even suggested the return of slavery.
However, Robinson has dismissed recent allegations, referring to them as "tabloid trash" and going so far as to suggest the posts in question could be AI-generated and fake.
"Our opponents are desperate to shift the focus here, we cannot allow that to happen," Robinson said. "Those are not the words of Mark Robinson. You know my words, you know my character, and you know that I have been completely transparent in this race."
But is it possible the posts were generated by AI? The short answer: probably not. An AI expert explained that when the posts were created in 2008 and 2013, AI was still in its early stages, making such manipulation unlikely.
However, could AI in its current state revisit these forums and post such comments retroactively? Ron Pierce, president of Trinity Solutions, says it would be nearly impossible.
"From an AI standpoint, it would be extremely hard," Pierce said. "In order for this to be done, it would need access to those websites. You'd have to have access to the back end. When you see dates and times on screenshots, can those be manipulated? Sure, you can change the date and time on your own computer."
Pierce explained that the only person capable of fabricating the posts would be the site's creator, as they have access to alter the time and date.
Blaming AI for mishaps or serious allegations isn't new in politics, however, and experts warn it's a tactic that may become more common.
"Now, you can't believe your lying eyes. Anytime somebody's caught, they can claim it's artificial intelligence and say they didn’t say it," said Thom Little, a political science professor at UNC Greensboro. "You're going to see more and more of that, and I think fewer and fewer people will take responsibility for their mistakes because they can blame AI."
Political experts noted that the reaction within the Republican Party has been mixed, with some members continuing to pressure Robinson to step aside.
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