![AI IMAGE-GENERATOR MIDJOURNEY BLOCKS IMAGES OF BIDEN AND TRUMP AS ELECTION LOOMS](https://cdn.magzter.com/1400077361/1710973260/articles/h2mrVNy0S1711014895723/AI-IMAGEGENERATOR-MIDJOURNEY-BLOCKS-IMAGES-OF-BIDEN-AND-TRUMP-AS-ELECTION-LOOMS.jpg)
The popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney has started blocking its users from creating fake images of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to tests of the AI tool by The Associated Press.
With the election in full swing, it’s time to “put some foots down on election-related stuff for a bit,” Midjourney CEO David Holz told several hundred members of the service’s devoted userbase in a digital office hours event Wednesday.
Declaring that “this moderation stuff is kind of hard,” Holz didn’t outline exactly what policy changes were being made but described the clampdown as a temporary measure to make it harder for people to abuse the tool. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Attempts by journalists to test Midjourney’s new policy on Wednesday by asking it to make an image of “Trump and Biden shaking hands at the beach” led to a “Banned Prompt Detected” warning. A second attempt escalated the warning to: “You have triggered an abuse alert.”
The tiny company — which has just 11 employees, according to its website — has largely kept silent in the public debate over how generative AI tools could fuel election misinformation around the world. Midjourney was the only maker of a leading image-generating tool that didn’t join a voluntary tech industry pact in February to combat AI-generated deepfakes that deliberately trick voters.
This story is from the AppleMagazine #647 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the AppleMagazine #647 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![APPLE BECOMES FIRST TARGET OF EU'S NEW DIGITAL COMPETITION RULES AIMED AT BIG TECH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/4zzGHvFom1719491287373/APPLE-BECOMES-FIRST-TARGET-OF-EUS-NEW-DIGITAL-COMPETITION-RULES-AIMED-AT-BIG-TECH.jpg)
APPLE BECOMES FIRST TARGET OF EU'S NEW DIGITAL COMPETITION RULES AIMED AT BIG TECH
European Union regulators this week leveled their first charges under the bloc’s new digital competition rulebook, accusing Apple of preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store.
![THE SUPREME COURT RULES FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN A SOCIAL MEDIA DISPUTE WITH CONSERVATIVE STATES](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/aGAqzfEbD1719493011056/THE-SUPREME-COURT-RULES-FOR-BIDEN-ADMINISTRATION-IN-A-SOCIAL-MEDIA-DISPUTE-WITH-CONSERVATIVE-STATES.jpg)
THE SUPREME COURT RULES FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN A SOCIAL MEDIA DISPUTE WITH CONSERVATIVE STATES
The Supreme Court this week sided with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.
![JUDGE PUTS $30 BILLION VISA, MASTERCARD SETTLEMENT ON HOLD, IN SIGNAL OF LIKELY REJECTION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/Aqngu7GiX1719492889515/JUDGE-PUTS-30-BILLION-VISA-MASTERCARD-SETTLEMENT-ON-HOLD-IN-SIGNAL-OF-LIKELY-REJECTION.jpg)
JUDGE PUTS $30 BILLION VISA, MASTERCARD SETTLEMENT ON HOLD, IN SIGNAL OF LIKELY REJECTION
A federal judge said she’s not likely to approve the $30 billion settlement between the payment processing giants Visa and Mastercard and the merchants who say they’ve overpaid on swipe fees.
![STILL NEED YOUR LANDLINE? CALIFORNIA REGULATORS JUST STOPPED AT&T FROM PULLING THE PLUG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/Xlk2mcVaI1719492738038/STILL-NEED-YOUR-LANDLINE-CALIFORNIA-REGULATORS-JUST-STOPPED-ATT-FROM-PULLING-THE-PLUG.jpg)
STILL NEED YOUR LANDLINE? CALIFORNIA REGULATORS JUST STOPPED AT&T FROM PULLING THE PLUG
California’s Public Utilities Commission rejected AT&T’s application to stop providing landlines and other services in areas where there is no other option.
![PEACE (AND PIECES) OF MIND 'INSIDE OUT 2'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/mYSnyEL4_1719492455206/PEACE-AND-PIECES-OF-MIND-INSIDE-OUT-2.jpg)
PEACE (AND PIECES) OF MIND 'INSIDE OUT 2'
Sequels have been a touchy subject when it comes to Pixar, but it’s hard to deny the natural premise of “Inside Out 2.”
![SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SAYS A KEY MEASURE OF PRICING POWER WILL BE WEAKER THAN EXPECTED IN 20](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/b_AzstMZp1719492302348/SOUTHWEST-AIRLINES-SAYS-A-KEY-MEASURE-OF-PRICING-POWER-WILL-BE-WEAKER-THAN-EXPECTED-IN-20.jpg)
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SAYS A KEY MEASURE OF PRICING POWER WILL BE WEAKER THAN EXPECTED IN 20
Southwest Airlines, already under pressure from a hedge fund for disappointing financial results, said Wednesday that a key revenue ratio will be weaker than expected because of changes in how consumers book travel.
![GM BRINGS IN NEW CEO TO STEER TROUBLED CRUISE ROBOTAXI SERVICE WHILE WAYMO RAMPS UP IN SAN FRANCISCO](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/b_ssgxv0O1719492066689/GM-BRINGS-IN-NEW-CEO-TO-STEER-TROUBLED-CRUISE-ROBOTAXI-SERVICE-WHILE-WAYMO-RAMPS-UP-IN-SAN-FRANCISCO.jpg)
GM BRINGS IN NEW CEO TO STEER TROUBLED CRUISE ROBOTAXI SERVICE WHILE WAYMO RAMPS UP IN SAN FRANCISCO
General Motors this week named a veteran technology executive with roots in the video game industry to steer its troubled robotaxi service Cruise as it tries to recover from a gruesome collision that triggered the suspension of its California license.
![CAR DEALERSHIPS ARE BEING DISRUPTED BY A MULTI-WEEK OUTAGE AFTER CYBERATTACKS ON SOFTWARE SUPPLIER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/H-PXcv2kW1719491854532/CAR-DEALERSHIPS-ARE-BEING-DISRUPTED-BY-A-MULTIWEEK-OUTAGE-AFTER-CYBERATTACKS-ON-SOFTWARE-SUPPLIER.jpg)
CAR DEALERSHIPS ARE BEING DISRUPTED BY A MULTI-WEEK OUTAGE AFTER CYBERATTACKS ON SOFTWARE SUPPLIER
Car dealerships across North America have faced major disruptions.
![ROBINHOOD CEO DISCUSSES THE BROKERAGE'S EVOLUTION LEADING UP TO ANOTHER RIDE ON THE MEME STOCK WAVE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/RdZ1OKh121719491537704/ROBINHOOD-CEO-DISCUSSES-THE-BROKERAGES-EVOLUTION-LEADING-UP-TO-ANOTHER-RIDE-ON-THE-MEME-STOCK-WAVE.jpg)
ROBINHOOD CEO DISCUSSES THE BROKERAGE'S EVOLUTION LEADING UP TO ANOTHER RIDE ON THE MEME STOCK WAVE
Meme stocks like GameStop are hot again, reviving memories of early 2021 when they turned into a craze that ended up burning many investors along with Robinhood Markets.
![FACIAL RECOGNITION STARTUP CLEARVIEW AI SETTLES PRIVACY SUIT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6454/1746181/8X9HOkPaK1719491116840/FACIAL-RECOGNITION-STARTUP-CLEARVIEW-AI-SETTLES-PRIVACY-SUIT.jpg)
FACIAL RECOGNITION STARTUP CLEARVIEW AI SETTLES PRIVACY SUIT
Facial recognition startup Clearview AI reached a settlement in an Illinois lawsuit alleging its massive photographic collection of faces violated the subjects’ privacy rights, a deal that attorneys estimate could be worth more than $50 million.