Highlights:
Researchers from Indiana University have released a report on Twitter, revealing the existence of 1,140 active AI bot accounts on the platform, named “Fox8”. These bots are being used to encourage people to invest in fake cryptocurrencies by interacting with human accounts and using hashtags like #bitcoin and #crypto.
The Fox8 bot accounts spread misinformation on various topics, including election and public health issues. They even post continuously to make it appear that they are real accounts and engage with human users, fooling them into falling for their scams.
After receiving the report, Twitter has removed all 1,440 bot accounts from the platform. The company has not provided any comment on the matter. Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, is pushing for verification measures to reduce the presence of bots on the platform.
Creating bot accounts has become easier with the availability of AI tools like ChatGPT, leading people to take advantage of this and use them for fraudulent purposes.
To identify bot accounts on Twitter, it is advised to carefully review messages, replies, and links. Checking the account’s profile and examining all posts can also help determine if an account is operated by a bot or a real person.
AI Bots on Twitter: Researchers from Indiana University have issued a report on Twitter, revealing the presence of 1,140 active AI bot accounts on the platform. These bots, known as “fox8,” are being used to encourage people to invest in fake cryptocurrencies. The accounts are designed to appear authentic, with various people’s selfies attached to them. According to a report by NYP, these bots use hashtags like #bitcoin and #crypto to interact with human accounts. The content of these accounts is generated using AI tools, which allows them to deceive people.
These bot accounts are spreading misinformation on various topics, including fake cryptocurrencies, elections, and public health issues. Additionally, these accounts regularly post in order to engage with human accounts and potentially trap them in their web of deception. To give the appearance of authenticity, these bot accounts also engage in conversation with each other and have followers on all accounts.
As soon as Twitter received this report, the company swiftly removed all 1,440 bot accounts from the platform. Twitter has not commented on this matter. Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, has been advocating for verification as a way to reduce the number of bots on the platform. The availability of AI tools like chat GPT has made it easier to create such accounts, and people are taking advantage of this.
If you are active on Twitter, it is important to always be cautious when replying to messages or clicking on links. To detect a bot account, visit their profile and carefully examine all their posts and interactions. Engaging in conversation with an account can also reveal if it is bot-operated or not.
And, AI bot accounts on Twitter are being used to spread misinformation and deceive users. It is essential to be skeptical and verify the authenticity of accounts before engaging with them.
