The Influence Machine: Hacking Deterrence with Automated IO

August 2018 No Comments

The Influence Machine: Hacking Deterrence with Automated IO

Speaker: Telley, C. (Naval Postgraduate School)

Date: 15 August 2018

Speaker Session Preview

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by MAJ Christopher Telley (Naval Postgraduate School) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. MAJ Telley began his presentation with a quote by Andrew Ng: “Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think artificial intelligence (AI) will transform in the next several years.” He proceeded to define automated influence, as well as the “Influence Machine,” which converges three uses of AI for IO: algorithmic content generation capacity, personalized targeting capability, and firehose dissemination capacity. He spoke about how manufactured influence is not a new concept and how Martin Luther’s posting and distribution of his Ten Theses was its “Protestant precedent.” MAJ Telley also spoke about modern examples of manufactured influence and about the exponential potential and strategic asymmetry of the influence machine. He concluded his presentation by offering policy recommendations, identifying areas of necessary change, and outlining his overall conclusions.