CBS News
Can you spot the AI impostor? The swift rise of AI celebrity endorsements
Two months before Election Day, a photo of singer Elton John in a pink coat with the letters “MAGA” on it surfaced on social media, suggesting the global superstar had endorsed former President Donald Trump.
But the photo wasn’t real. It’s the latest in a series of images and videos created using artificial intelligence that aim to dupe viewers into thinking their favorite celebrities have endorsed political candidates.
Stars including Will Smith and Taylor Swift have also had their likeness used to falsely claim they are supporting Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
When Swift publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in an Instagram post, she referenced AI-generated images that falsely suggested she had endorsed Trump, adding that the incident “brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter.”
An AI-generated video of Will Smith and Chris Rock, which amassed over 700,000 views on X, showed the stars eating large plates full of spaghetti with Trump.
How to identify AI-generated images
There are three main ways to tell if an image or video has been AI-generated or manipulated, Claire Leibowicz, head of the AI and Media Integrity Program at the nonprofit technology coalition The Partnership on AI, told CBS News.
The first way is to look for airbrushing, smudging or “things that defy the laws of physics,” Leibowicz said.
The second is to find any visual inconsistencies. In the case of the Elton John image, for example, the MAGA letters on his jacket were sewn across the lapels and his glasses were too close together.
The third way to find out if an image is real is to find the original source through reverse searching online. This can be done by taking a screenshot and uploading it to Google Lens or similar tools, and the results will show whether there’s a match out there, helping you verify where it came from.
Leibowicz added that she was previously fooled by AI when a fabricated image of Pope Francis went viral online.
“This is getting harder, and we’re [going to] need journalists and other experts to really be helping us authenticate content.”
A poll conducted by the Polarization Research Lab in March found that nearly 50% of Americans believe AI will make elections worse, about 30% are unsure and 20% believe AI will improve the election process.
Sam Gregory, executive director of Witness.org, a global nonprofit that uses video and technology to protect human rights, told CBS News, “Most of the information that will mislead us around the elections is likely to be powerful leaders telling lies or misrepresenting the truth in public.”
The Department of Homeland Security released a bulletin in May warning the public of the challenges AI can create for the November presidential election, saying the “timing of election-specific AI-generated media can be just as critical as the content itself, as it may take time to counter-message or debunk the false content permeating online.”
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Inflation fell in September after hitting a 3-year low in August. Unemployment numbers are low and the Federal Reserve just issued its first interest rate cut in more than four years. While these are all encouraging signs for the broader economy, it will take some time for consumers to recover from recent financial troubles. It wasn’t that long ago that inflation was at a decades-high and interest rates are still exponentially higher than they were just a few years ago.
Against this backdrop, credit card debt has surged with the average user now owing approximately $8,000 to their lenders. And with the average credit card interest rate hovering near a record 23%, it will take a long time and a concentrated effort to reduce that balance. For many borrowers, it may make sense to pursue debt relief, specifically credit card debt forgiveness. However, there are some limits to what this service can do for borrowers. So, will credit card debt forgiveness cover a $25,000 debt?
See how debt relief can help reduce what you owe here now.
Will credit card debt forgiveness cover my $25,000 debt?
In short: yes, a credit card debt forgiveness program can cover your $25,000 debt. The minimum balance for this type of service is typically $7,500. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get your entire balance wiped clean. Credit card debt forgiveness programs typically cover 30% to 50% of the existing balance. So, in this circumstance, you may be able to settle for between $7,500 and $12,500. But you’ll need to qualify for that relief. Specifically, most companies will want you to provide all of the following:
- Debt over $7,500: This applies in this circumstance but if you owe less than that amount you may be better served by turning to a debt relief alternative.
- Financial hardship: If you can demonstrate you’re currently experiencing a financial hardship that’s preventing you from paying your balance, you can improve your chances of approval. This means showing the loss of a job, medical expenses, or more. You’ll need to provide documentation demonstrating this hardship.
- Behind on payments: You’re more likely to get help with forgiving a balance if you’re already behind on your monthly payments. If you’ve been staying up to date, even if with minimal payments, creditors are less likely to help, since that typically demonstrates an ability to make payments, just at a slower pace.
If you currently qualify for forgiveness then consider contacting a servicer now. With credit card rates high and predicted rate cuts unlikely to make a material difference in what you owe, it makes sense to be proactive.
Start tackling your high-rate credit card debt now.
What about a debt consolidation loan?
Credit card interest rates are high now but personal loans are much lower (averaging just under 13% compared to credit card rates at 23%). It can be beneficial for many borrowers to then consolidate their existing credit card debt with a lower-rate consolidation loan. Rates will depend on your credit score and profile but, if your score is high, you will likely qualify for a low-rate loan. This won’t eliminate a portion of your debt like a forgiveness plan would, but you also won’t have to deal with the credit score ramifications that most forgiveness plans result in, either.
The bottom line
If you meet certain criteria, a credit card debt forgiveness program can cover a $25,000 balance. But it won’t cover it in its entirety. And, in many cases, borrowers may be better served by exploring alternatives like debt consolidation loans. No matter which option you ultimately choose, however, don’t let your debt stagnate, particularly at today’s elevated. Explore all of your best debt relief options and choose the one that works best for your financial situation right now.
