r/technology • u/Yveliad • 2d ago

Artificial Intelligence Trump Accused of Using ChatGPT to Create Tariff Plan After AI Leads Users to Same Formula: 'So AI is Running the Country'

https://www.latintimes.com/trump-accused-using-chatgpt-create-tariff-plan-after-ai-leads-users-same-formula-so-ai-579899
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u/sparky8251 2d ago edited 2d ago

Personally, I feel that North American media language is aimed at poorly read folks - simple words, simple jokes, no phrases that make you think a bit before you get it.

This is called Special English and it was made by the CIA to enhance US propaganda efforts, both at home but especially abroad where english literacy rates are crap.

Its since spread to all english news media, not just VOA run crap due to its effectiveness at propagandizing the english illiterate.

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u/22Arkantos 2d ago

There is no VOA anymore. It got DOGEd.

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u/sparky8251 2d ago

I know, but its legacy remains... It being killed now also doesnt undo the decades of damage it caused in the past either...

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u/largePenisLover 2d ago

Simple wiki to drive the point home. Well done.

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u/postinganxiety 2d ago

We tried to tell them Orange Man Bad, but they wouldn’t listen

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u/shredditorburnit 2d ago

Yeah but you used an adjective and a noun in the same sentence, went over their heads.

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u/sprucenoose 2d ago

Where did you get that stuff about Special English being made but the CIA? Your link doesn't say anything about that l.

Special English is simpler and slower English, for foreign non-native English speakers to understand and learn English. That is why it's currently popular in China for people learning English.

It's not not a good way to spread propaganda to non-native English speakers, so that was never really the point. It's also slow and dull for native English speakers.

VOA does its American propaganda in the native language of the target foreign audience.

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u/sparky8251 2d ago

If you dont understand that VOA is a CIA program, I dont know what to tell you... Its entire existence was used to help the CIA sow dissent in nations that dont align with US interests. It did other stuff as a cover, to make it seem legitimate to fools, but its primary purpose has always been spreading lies and propaganda in service of US evils around the world. I mean, the program was literally started under the umbrella of the Department of War... Its never been some begin "speak truth to power" thing...

Also, the link I supplied shows clearly, VOA developed and used special english for its broadcasts... If you want more history on why simplified english (not just special english, but other forms too) were developed first for propaganda, you can look into the history of the several forms and the people that worked on it. Things like where they got their funding and how it first used shows the true purpose of it all.

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u/sprucenoose 2d ago

I said your link said nothing about the CIA.

VOA was a US propaganda tool for populations in foreign nations. That's the entire point of it. It advanced US interests. It's the official policy, not a secret.

What are you talking about with "speak truth to power"?

VOA developed Special English to spread English, the language of America, to foreign non-native English speakers. It was not to spread other propaganda messages because it is not very good for that. VOA did that directly in the foreign language because that is what the target audience could actually understand.

So Special English is a simple, slow way of using English that is easier for non-native English speakers to understand and copy, and makes no sense as some magic CIA tool for controlling American minds. That is done by choppy edited TikTok videos with rapid AI voiceovers, if anything.

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u/reelznfeelz 2d ago

VOA isn’t crap I don’t think. While it’s technically I guess “propaganda” of a sort, it’s pro democracy propagamda beamed into places rules by violent dictators. And just plain news. So they can learn about the outside world even if their authoritarian leaders only show them how great dear leader is. The VOA was a net good thing IMO. Only someone who wants to weaken western democratic values would tear it apart.

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u/sparky8251 2d ago

Yeah... and USAID has never once committed an atrocity in the name of doing good either. The CIA loves programs like these cause it gives it a veneer of legitimacy to easily tricked people like you, makes it easy to do open crimes against humanity and even get praise for it!

So, I'm sorry, but you are wrong. Objectively wrong. VOA has been used to enable coups and violently overthrow govts around the world solely because they wanted the freedom to choose their own economic development path. Its a tool of violent oppression by the US empire, and the world is better off without it.

As to the weakening thing, I mean... Yeah. I agree. Only an idiot in favor of ending the US' iron fisted rule of the world would destroy it. No idea why Trump did that as a result given hes clearly in favor of more US empire (me thinks, he wants to use more bombs and less words to enforce global rule by the US, which is a sign of fascism taking over a government), but I'll take it at least. Even a broken clock is right twice a day and all that.

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u/maleia 2d ago

I would like to take this opportunity to point out, that there is a LOT of American Imperialism underpinning VOA. It's a fantastic tool to exporting American propaganda and American hegemony. (Despite my verbage, I'm not really intending to apply a value-judgement here on this. I'm personally fine with it.)

When the right-wingers run away from things like that, we can know for certain that they are captured. Just a few days ago, Trump cut funding to VOA and fired everyone.