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“I’m willing to do so, within my capabilities,” says Yasira. “But you know that I am neither a lawyer nor a priestess. I am a police officer. If you confess a crime to me, by whomsoever, I will have to take action. However, I can guarantee you source protection or, if necessary, advocate for crown witness protection.”
“No, no,” says Schiller. “It’s not about a crime.” He pauses briefly. “At least not one that the police would pursue.”
Yasira nods, but says nothing. She waits for Schiller to continue on his own initiative.
“Your visit yesterday afternoon... and then the events of the evening... or in other words, there’s something that’s been troubling me for a long time, a concern that my work, albeit unintentional, will have a negative impact on the world...” He hesitates, obviously struggling to find the right words. “Do you know Geoffrey Hinton?”
Yasira shakes her head.
“He’s like the godfather of artificial intelligence. You see, in the 1970s there was a so-called AI winter. The high hopes of the post-war period in this field had not been fulfilled. Progress was rare and slow. Funding was cut, investors preferred to put their money into other projects.” Schiller fiddles with the red and white checkered tablecloth. “And at that time, Geoffrey Hinton advocated the idea that artificial neural networks based on the human brain were the most promising way forward. Yet he was on his own in this view. Hardly anyone believed it. Today, however, his work is the prevailing dogma. The big AI success stories of recent years are all based on artificial neural networks.”
Yasira wonders where Schiller is going with this but doesn’t interrupt him.
“Hinton had been working for Google in the tens. Made millions. But some time ago he unexpectedly resigned. And that was so he could talk freely about the risks of AI”
Yasira nods. She now understands that Schiller is not only talking about Hinton, but also about himself, so to speak.
“I read an interview with Hinton,” says Schiller, “that really made me think. One sentence that stuck with me was: ‘It’s hard to imagine a way to prevent malicious parties from using it for malicious purposes.’”
As he speaks, Schiller seems to look everywhere but into Yasira’s eyes.
“He went on to say that technology, our technology, will lead to a world so full of fake images and texts that no one will be able to discern what is true anymore. Roughly what you said yesterday. It immediately came to my mind.”
Schiller takes a sip of his Americano.
“But there’s more,” he continues. “This man, this genius, said in the interview that he regrets his life’s work, that he regrets having contributed to it. His concerns obviously extend far beyond generating text, images, and languages. He fears that we will soon no longer be the smartest beings on the planet. And if you want to know what that feels like, you should ask a chicken.” Schiller sighs. “In short, I’m afraid the answer is ‘yes.’”
“Yes?” asks Yasira. “Yes, AlmostReal’s software would be capable of generating a credible video like the one of Lena’s rape?”
Schiller looks at her crestfallen. “Yes,” he says. “And yes, our software could recreate Lena based on images and videos from her Instagram account.”
“Withoutglitches?” asks Yasira.
“Withoutglitches. To eliminate the usual errors, we started training our system on fakes. The program has practically taught itself what looks wrong.”
He attempts to take another sip of his coffee, but the cup is already empty.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean that the video was generated with our software, or that I even have any suspicion as to who created it, but, and that was your question yesterday, I think it’s technically possible.”
Yasira slaps her hand on the table.
“I knew it!” She feels excitement boiling up inside her. “Would you be willing to repeat this statement at a press conference? As our expert?”
“Uh, no,” Schiller replies, startled, “I already told you that would cost me my job! And in all honesty, I don’t want all the hate either. Active Homeland-Protection and all that... I admit it, I’m scared of them.”
So this is how far things have come in Germany again, Yasira thinks depressed. People remain silent out of fear for their lives and safety.
“We can protect you,” says Yasira.
“I don’t want to be protected,” replies Tom Schiller. “I’m sorry! I just want to be able to leave the house without having to look over my shoulder. And do you think that everything will suddenly be alright again when you announce that the video was fake? The mob won’t believe you even if you had proof. But you don’t even have any.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“If you had any, you would have acted very differently yesterday.”
“You’d just be an expert and wouldn’t have to align yourself with any political faction.”
“So were the virologists during the pandemic. Didn’t help them much in terms of hatred.”
