AI and the Distortion of Holocaust History: Why Ethical Standards Matter

In a joint report with the World Jewish Congress, UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, has issued a warning against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to distort history and promote Holocaust denial. The report highlights the dangers of relying on internet data that may contain human bias and misinformation when developing generative AI technologies like ChatGPT’s chatbot.

Without proper oversight by developers, these tools can be trained on data from unreliable sources, including non-Holocaust websites, leading to the falsification of information about historical events and reinforcing prejudices. Moreover, AI can enable malicious actors to fabricate content such as witness testimonies and historical documents related to the Holocaust, creating fake photos and audio that appear convincing, especially to young people on social media platforms.

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the importance of applying ethical AI standards to prevent the dilution, distortion or falsification of Holocaust facts. She stressed that urgent action is needed to ensure that younger generations are exposed to facts rather than lies. Without access to accurate data, generative AI models may invent events and historical phenomena, leading to a widespread increase in anti-Semitism and a lack of understanding of the atrocities committed during World War II.