I’d be shocked if the Pentagon isn’t running an AI propaganda mill targeting <insert any region of the world>.

What I think many of the jaded comments about how "it was ever thus" miss is what it means that American soft power is reduced to AI slop.

During the Cold War, the CIA famously funded all sorts of cultural endeavors, but much of the output (if not directly CIA-created, then at least bolstered by the Agency) is still held to have been culturally relevant: abstract expressionism (https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20161004-was-modern-art-...), the Kenyon Review (https://www.thecollegianmagazine.com/the-kenyon-review-and-t...), etc.

Lots to criticize in the Cold War, but I think you can at least make the argument that this was emblematic of an American cultural power that was self-assured of its own value and legitimacy.

In comparison, now we have...LLMs creating personal finance tips?

Well, yes, obviously. Did you notice there is also one (rather, a whole ecosystem) targeting Russia, one for Iran, one for China, one for EU, one for Japan, etc?

If the American system is so good, why does it always need to be promoted in such strange ways? LA people should be so eager to be pro-America

The USA meddling in South American politics? Say it ain’t so!

It’s so bizarre to me that in the US heartland, Latinos are demonised, yet beyond US borders they care so much about the democratic welfare of their South American amigos.

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When it comes to traditional spycraft, I'm of the opinion that everyone does it and everyone has to. Everyone does it. It's of tremendous value. And it doesn't particularly hurt us when we get caught.

But the First Amendment is a cultural touchstone for America. Even if everyone else does this nonsense, it's not of demonstrable value and it does hurt us when we get caught like this. Unilateral disarmament isn't usually an option. But it is, I think, when it comes to this.

I think we should pass a law banning undisclosed social media, psyop and other unattributed propaganda campaigns among (a) allies and (b) other democracies (as judged by a neutral source).

you can actually learn a lot about the world by just guessing whats happening. you don't even need to read the news, you can just guess correctly.

> Enter your email to keep reading for free. > This is not a paywall.

Yes it is. I'm supposed to pay with my email and chance to be spammed. No, I won't be doing so.

Have they ever stopped? CIA and SOCOM have been dangling themselves into Latin American lives since they were invented. Assassinating presidents, spewing propaganda, assisting in coups.

It would be a surprise, it they weren't using AI to add to the mix.

This is odd. They have the budget to run with real journalists and outlets. Is this some reverse-psychology move? Where they want people to see that its AI and thus not take it seriously? What aim does that achieve?

yep, with brazil at the center...

oh just the one?

Hollywood is not just targeting Latin America. Marvel and DC are everybody fascists dreams.

Latam already has enough problems with socialism we hardly need more of it.