The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Disinformation May Increase in Europe and Latvia This Year

He pointed out that an increasing amount of content in the digital environment will be created not by humans, but by AI. In terms of content, he believes that previous trends will persist — Russia will be portrayed as strong, while Ukraine will be depicted as a weak state. There may also be attempts to divide Europe and the USA. Speaking about the risks of disinformation related to the parliamentary elections in Latvia next year, Sarts emphasized that elections are one of Russia's targets, aiming to destabilize the situation and create chaos, making Latvia a potential target. He suggested that a wide range of methods could be employed, including the use of AI and attempts to influence algorithms, as has been observed in other countries. The director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence indicated that there may also be attempts to steer AI models in a direction favorable to Russia by using so-called "data poisoning" to ensure that the models provide answers convenient for Russia. He acknowledged that the main methods of information warfare employed by Russia are well known, and while new experiments may be possible, it is likely that the methods that have previously yielded results will continue. Sarts added that Russian activity is aimed not only at elections but also at other events, such as security incidents in the region. Sarts explained that AI is already being used to spread disinformation, including through robotic accounts on social media that mimic human behavior, as well as through artificially created websites that influence the responses of large language models. He emphasized that every person is susceptible to manipulation under certain circumstances, and new technologies allow for the adaptation of manipulation methods to specific individuals. The director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence urged caution on social media, especially in emotionally charged situations, and advised against making important decisions in haste.