By Junex Doronio

AMID THE “PHOTO LAB” CRAZE on social media, Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro has warned personnel of defense agencies and the military against using “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Image Generators.”

Without elaborating, Teodoro claimed that there has already been a report that the “seemingly harmless and amusing” application could be “maliciously used to create fake profiles that can lead to identity theft, social engineering, phishing attacks, and other malicious activities.”

In an October 14 memorandum addressed to top officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) and its bureaus, and the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the defense chief gave the marching order that “personnel are directed to refrain from using AI photo generator applications, and practice vigilance in sharing information online.”

Even if he did not identify any app, Teodoro warned that these AI image-generating apps “compiles its users’ data and creates a digital person that mimics how a real individual speaks and moves.”

It can be noted that several AI image generating apps have been trending online in recent months. (ai/mnm)