A high school athletic director in Maryland has been accused of using artificial intelligence to impersonate a principal on an audio recording that included racist and antisemitic comments. Dazhon Darien faked the voice of Pikesville High School’s principal in response to conversations the men had about Darien’s poor work performance and whether his contract would be renewed, Baltimore County police said. Concerns included allegations that Darien paid his roommate $1,900 in school funds under the false pretense of coaching the girls soccer team. Darien forged an audio clip that sounded as if the principal was frustrated with Black students and their test-taking abilities, as well as disparaging Jewish individuals and two teachers. The recording quickly spread on social media, leading to profound repercussions for the principal and his family, who were placed on leave and required police security at their home.
The incident has prompted calls for new laws to guard against the nefarious use of artificial intelligence technology. Scott Shellenberger, the Baltimore County state’s attorney, stated that this case appears to be one of the first of its kind nationwide involving AI and that state laws may need to be updated to address the harmful potential of this technology. Expert analyses of the recording made by Darien revealed that it contained traces of AI-generated content with human editing, as well as multiple recordings spliced together. Darien had used Large Language Models like OpenAI and Bingchat to create the synthetic audio clip. He now faces charges including theft, disrupting school activities, stalking, and retaliating against a witness.
The ease of use of AI technology is a cause for concern, as it becomes increasingly powerful and sophisticated. Siwei Lyu, director of a media forensics lab at the University at Buffalo, explained that AI can recreate voices based on just a minute or two of someone speaking, although it may not always be perfect. Detection methods for AI-generated content are trying to keep up with the advancements in generative technology, but may be lagging behind due to limited resources and attention. Lyu emphasized the importance of developing detection methods to prevent the misuse of AI in creating harmful content.
Law enforcement authorities took action to prevent Darien from leaving the country after he was arrested at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport before his scheduled flight to Houston. Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough stated that Darien was stopped due to improper packaging of his firearm, which led officers to discover the warrant for his arrest. The Baltimore County school system is recommending Darien’s termination, and the superintendent Myriam Rogers affirmed that his conduct is not representative of the values of the school district. The case highlights the need for updated laws to address the misuse of AI and protect individuals from harm.
The AI technology used by Darien to create the synthetic audio clip is increasingly accessible and user-friendly, according to experts. It is possible to upload someone’s voice to a platform, provide text, and generate voices that mimic that person. This poses a significant challenge for detecting AI-generated content, as it can be difficult to distinguish between real and synthetic audio. Lyu’s research focuses on identifying AI-generated voices and images, highlighting the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between the development of generative AI and detection methods. As AI technology continues to evolve, efforts to enhance detection capabilities become crucial in safeguarding against misuse.
In conclusion, the case involving Dazhon Darien using AI to impersonate a school principal underscores the potential dangers of AI technology in creating harmful content. The incident has spurred calls for updated laws and resources to address the misuse of AI for malicious purposes. Detecting AI-generated content poses a significant challenge as the technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible, requiring advancements in detection methods to combat the spread of harmful synthetic media. The consequences of this case have had a significant impact on the individuals involved and highlight the importance of addressing the ethical implications of AI technology in society.
