According to MIT Technology Review, a new document released on Wednesday reveals the US Department of Homeland Security is using AI video generators from Google and Adobe to create and edit content shared with the public. The inventory shows DHS employs various commercial AI tools for tasks from drafting documents to managing cybersecurity. This disclosure surfaces as immigration agencies, like ICE and CBP, have flooded social media with content supporting a mass deportation agenda—some of which already appears AI-made. The news also breaks amid pressure from tech workers urging their companies to denounce these agencies’ activities. The document provides a rare, official look at how federal law enforcement is integrating generative AI into its operations right now.
The ethical fog is thick here
Look, using AI to draft a press release or filter spam is one thing. But using it to generate video content for public messaging, especially from agencies with the power to detain and deport people? That’s a whole other level. Here’s the thing: when you’re dealing with life-altering government actions, transparency and authenticity aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re essential for public trust. So what happens when the line between human-made and AI-generated official communication blurs? It creates a fog where misinformation can thrive and accountability can vanish. And we’re seeing it play out in real time on social media feeds.
The tech worker revolt is a key subplot
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Tech employees at companies like Google and Microsoft have historically pressured their leadership to drop contracts with immigration enforcement agencies, arguing their work fuels a harmful system. Now, finding out those same companies’ AI tools are being used to craft the messaging for that very system? It’s adding serious fuel to that fire. Basically, it puts the tech giants in an even tougher spot. They’re selling the tools, but their own workforce is loudly questioning the end use. Can they really claim to have “ethical AI” principles while this is happening? I doubt the internal memos on this one are pleasant.
Meanwhile, the “Vitalists” are on the move
Shifting gears completely, the same issue of MIT Technology Review dives into the “Vitalism” movement. This isn’t your average wellness fad. It’s a philosophy, backed by hardcore longevity enthusiasts, that declares death itself is morally wrong. Their goal isn’t just incremental science; it’s to lobby for policy changes, sway influential people, and fast-track access to experimental anti-aging drugs. And they’re gaining traction. It’s a fascinating, sometimes weird, look at a group trying to hack the ultimate human system—our lifespan. While DHS uses AI to manage borders, these folks are funding tech to break through the border of mortality. The contrast in what different groups are using technology to control or conquer is pretty stark.
