The Trials of Artificial Intelligence and Our Responsibility
Mufti Muhammad Tasleemuddin Al-Mahmoodi
Today, the power of Artificial Intelligence can be gauged from the incident where a video was created of a prominent religious scholar that resembled his voice, style of expression, and manner of speaking. This video spread rapidly on social media, to the point that the elder himself had to formally deny it.
Just a short while ago, a knowledgeable person shared a video on Facebook, giving the impression that "fifteen and a half hundred unclaimed bodies were buried after a specific tragedy." Upon investigation, it was found that the reality was the opposite. It was a video of a welfare organization that has buried a total of that many unclaimed bodies since 2022. However, the initial part of the video was cut and linked to a specific event, thus spreading a false impression. It is unfortunate that some scholars also inadvertently promote such content.
Similarly, another viral clip showed a scene of a person being attacked by an animal during a speech and presented it as being related to a particular belief or event, although it was later revealed that the scene was created through artificial intelligence.
These are just observations from a few hours; otherwise, countless incidents of this nature are happening daily. Whether it's WhatsApp groups of scholars and elders or general gatherings, unverified news and exaggerated events have become so common that silence often seems better.
This situation is alarming. Artificial intelligence is still in its early stages, but it has made it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood, reality and deception. When this technology advances further, the nature of deceit will become even more complex. Thinking about this creates anxiety in the heart and the feeling that the coming era demands more insight and caution.
That is why it is necessary to repeatedly draw attention to the fact that smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, but have become a powerful tool for opinion-making and propaganda. There is a flood of false news, cut scenes, and artificial content. In such an environment, believing something merely by seeing or hearing it can be dangerous.
Therefore, it is necessary that we make research, verification, and caution our habit. In the curriculum of madrassas and religious institutions, while the importance of traditional sciences is undeniable, digital literacy, media ethics, identification of fake news, and basic information about artificial intelligence should also be included in view of the requirements of the present era.
Only then will such scholars be prepared who have the ability to recognize the trials of the times, save the Ummah from misguidance, and fulfill the right to intellectual and spiritual guidance. Insight along with knowledge, and research along with honesty, is the greatest need of today's era.
This article is based on generally and authentically known facts (AI, deep fakes, the spread of fake news). Since the details of specific events are described as general examples, their individual verification may be necessary.