“Misinformation” and “disinformation” derived from artificial intelligence (AI) — not conflict or poverty — are the top risks facing the world in the next two years, according to the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risks Report.
The WEF released the report on Jan. 10, just before its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Political and business leaders echoed these concerns throughout the event. More than 60 heads of state and 1,600 business leaders are among this year’s 2,800 participants from 120 countries — attendees referred to by WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab as the “trustees of the future.”
According to the Global Risks Report, “Foreign and domestic actors alike will leverage misinformation and disinformation to widen societal and political divides” in the next two years, posing a risk to elections in countries such as the U.S., U.K. and India.
