The proliferation of AI-generated images and videos has contributed to the spread of baseless rumors about immigrants attacking household pets. The rumors gained traction through thinly sourced anecdotes shared at government meetings and on social media platforms. However, it was the viral nature of AI-generated memes that propelled the topic into the mainstream. Notably, high-profile individuals like Elon Musk shared cartoonish images created using artificial intelligence, further amplifying the narrative.
These AI-generated images and videos, often accompanied by racist undertones, quickly garnered tens of millions of views and found their way onto former President Donald Trump’s social media accounts. The images depicted Trump running with cats while being chased by shirtless Black men, among other variations. While the claims about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets are unfounded, they have had real-world consequences, including bomb threats targeting local schools and government offices in Springfield, Ohio.
The power of cat-related memes on the internet is well-established, and encoding the demonization of immigrants into cute cat content has allowed individuals who may not harbor prejudiced views to participate in spreading the narrative. The democratization of meme-making through AI technology has accelerated the dissemination of these memes, as it no longer requires extensive Photoshop skills.
AI technology proved particularly useful in this case due to the scarcity of real photographs of Trump with animals, as he is famously not a pet owner. However, the use of AI-generated content in political discourse raises concerns about the potential manipulation of public opinion. While experts initially feared the impact of realistic deepfakes, the current election cycle has been shaped by obviously fake, AI-generated joke images that quickly accompany various lines of attack.
The widespread availability of generative AI tools enables the creation of numerous images within a short span of time. These images, resembling instant comic books with vibrant colors and easy-to-consume messages, possess significant viral potential. However, they often rely on the underlying perception of immigrants as dangerous to resonate with certain audiences.
This episode reflects a continuation of the meme-driven political strategy employed by Trump and his allies since 2016. The accessibility of AI image generators allows users to create pictures with simple text commands, and while some platforms have implemented rules to prevent election misinformation, others lack such safeguards. Chinese AI startup MiniMax, for instance, has been implicated in the creation of AI videos featuring Trump and animals.
