While we appreciate the democratisation of the Internet and the freedom to use social platforms, we recognise that not everyone is equipped to benefit from such openness. Free expression is debatable, especially when it is offensive or disrespectful. For that reason, anyone could be classified as having a low level of mental cognition.
Two of the most bizarre uses of artificial intelligence as political satire came from US President Donald Trump, who attested to symptoms of pathological megalomania, or informally, someone with a psychological disorder characterised by delusions of grandeur and an obsession with power.
Social media allows users to express their personalities in unique ways. We reached rock bottom with a joke that went too far with Trump’s papal aspirations. Just days after Pope Francis' death, we witnessed a diplomatic pantomime in which the President of the United States dressed up as the Pope utilising technology. Trump used an unsmiling image of himself seated in an ornate chair, clad in white papal vestments and a headdress, with his right forefinger raised.
Less than a week after attending Pope Francis' burial, he shared the artificially created photo on his Truth Social platform. The White House reposted it to its official X account. The president of the United States has yet to express regret to the more than two million Catholics worldwide.
When the president of one of the world's most powerful countries uses social media to mock faith and culture, believing he is powerful enough to ridicule the utmost solemnity for Catholics, it highlights that something is wrong - not with artificial intelligence or technology, but with the user's immature attitude.
Choosing to act like a clown on the global stage, insulting institutions and offending believers, the President of the United States shows a lack of statesmanship, disrespectful behaviour and boundless arrogance.
It is not the first time Donald Trump, voluntarily or not, raised concerns about the use of artificial intelligence. A “Trump Gaza” AI-generated video depicting the Gaza Strip as a Dubai-style paradise emerged in February shortly after the US president unveiled his property development plan for Gaza. The video depicts a family emerging from the wreckage of war-torn Gaza into a beachside resort.
Trump’s bizarre posts raise questions about the misuse of technology, either in shaping public perception, to amuse, or to entertain and offend. It is a blur between satire and political communication strategy.
People can look at Trump’s bold acts as amusing or controversial, as an act of audacity, or as a provocative act of disrespect. The ramifications of such actions extend to moral principles, technology and mental health.
Social media is a double-edged sword. Just as fire can illuminate and warm, in the same way it can kill and destroy. Studies highlight that when users engage with toxic content, their behaviour is influenced less by technological features and more by their predisposition.
The power of AI technologies in creating lifelike images can have implications not only for political communication but also for societal impact. The use and misuse of AI can stir emotions and divide public opinion. It can generate realistic yet fictional narratives, and public figures must navigate conflicting expectations from their audiences.
AI’s ability to generate content, such as images and text, presents potential for innovation, opportunities and challenges. However, it also opens the door to misuse. The proliferation of generative AI misuse highlights the increasing importance of critical media literacy.
Responsible social media and AI use at the individual level is important. Individual character and actions shape sociotechnical dynamics. Regardless of legal requirements, there is a moral obligation to consider one's online behaviour and to pay attention to sociocultural characteristics.
Sonia Ambrosio
The writer is journalist, academic and researcher in media studies
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