Utah
Utah's role in combating election deepfakes
No, former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert is not running for president, even though a voice that sounded eerily similar to his said as much at a press conference on Tuesday. The recording was a deepfake — one that Herbert had no involvement in making.
The fake audio recording was used to illustrate the dangers of artificial intelligence in the 2024 elections, and to set up an announcement about the creation of a Utah pilot program to combat deepfake AI images and audio.
While the Herbert deepfake was created to make a point, Brandon Amacher, program director at the Emerging Tech Policy Lab for Utah Valley University’s Center for National Security Studies, said AI is already being used to spread misinformation across the globe.
Amacher gave several examples:
- India’s recent national election was “rife with AI election interference,” Amacher said. There were falsified celebrity endorsements, candidates claiming legitimate media was AI and the circulation of doctored videos.
- A deepfake video of State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller that circulated suggested that the U.S. authorized the use of American weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory amid the conflict in Ukraine.
- In Taiwan’s 2024 election, AI was used to undermine candidate credibility and create false media stories such as the unfounded rumor that President Lai Ching Te had fathered an illegitimate child.
- Closer to home, deepfake audio of President Joe Biden was used for political calls in New Hampshire before the presidential primary there.
These examples, and the potential for AI to affect local races come November, have prompted the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy, the Center for National Security Studies at UVU and Provo startup SureMark Digital Identity Services to partner to launch a pilot project to combat deepfakes in Utah elections. The project’s scope is the races for the state’s four congressional seats and the open Senate seat “by giving the candidates the ability to authenticate their digital identity for free.”
In addition, voters can use a free browser plug-in that will verify digital content coming from candidates. The project is to “instill faith in the election system in voters,” those involved said.
How does the program work? W. Scott Stornetta, chairman of SureMark Digital Identity Services, said there are three steps:
- The program verifies the identity of the candidate for public office.
- Content from the verified candidate is authorized.
- The sources are validated for the public by the free browser plugin, which will be available next month.
This is the place
At the press conference, Stornetta said Utah is an optimal place to launch the pilot project because of a tradition of the political process working in the state. The Utah Compact, the Utah Compromise and Gov. Spencer Cox’s “Disagree Better” campaign were brought up as examples.
Stornetta said the aim is to “capture” the attention of all Utahns in the process.
The rise of AI may make some people complacent, thinking there’s nothing they can do to differentiate what’s real and what’s made up, Stornetta said, but if citizens combine together and candidates are credentialed through the program it’s a way to take responsibility in a time of so much disinformation.
Having accuracy and authenticity is as important on the local level as it is nationally or globally, Herbert said.
“I’m proud to say that I believe, in fact, that we can trust the election process in the state of Utah,” he said.
Looking ahead
Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner said launching the program now is important because over time deepfakes will become more convincing.
“You can’t just trust your eyes and ears,” she said. “You need to be able to look deeper.”
Amacher said 2024′s election will have some AI influence, but future elections are expected to be affected much more.
“We want to learn from this election so there is a more robust way to secure public confidence in future elections,” he said.
The candidates in Utah’s House races and Senate race can choose if they want to participate or not.
The pilot runs from this month until winning candidates are sworn into office in January 2025.
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Robert Redford liked to say that everybody has a story. He’s not the only person who said it, but he is one of the few who did something to celebrate it, his daughter, Amy Redford, said Wednesday evening ahead of the Sundance Film Festival’s opening day.
Thanks to her father’s vision, the Sundance Institute he founded and its year-round programs have helped shape and nurture American independent film for the past 40 years. This year’s Sundance Film Festival is a grand goodbye party: It’s the first without Redford following his death in September, and the last in Utah before the festival relocates to Boulder, Colorado.
“This is a festival of new beginnings and endings,” his daughter said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’m going to look around and drink it up and enjoy it and just not take anything for granted.”
Robert Redford’s legacy and Sundance’s decades-long history in Utah are key themes of the 2026 festival, which officially begins Thursday morning with over a dozen films premiering throughout the day.
By the time the dust has settled from Oscar nominations, the festival will already be in full swing with the world premieres of Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary “The Last First: Winter K2” about the changing culture of extreme mountain climbing, Rachel Lambert’s tender drama “Carousel,” starring Chris Pine and Jenny Slate, and Judd Apatow’s portrait of comedian Maria Bamford’s mental health journey on the opening day list.
Also upcoming is David Alvarado’s “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” about the legacy of the playwright and director, and Joanna Natasegara’s “The Disciple,” which delves into the stranger-than-fiction story of how Dutch-Moroccan record producer Cilvaringz found his way into the inner circle of the Wu-Tang Clan. “Too Many Cooks” creator Casper Kelly will also debut his midnight movie “Buddy,” starring Cristin Milioti, about escaping a children’s television show.
The Sundance Film Festival runs through Feb. 1.
___
For more coverage of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
SALT LAKE CITY — Yelp has released its annual Top 100 Places to Eat List featuring restaurants from around the country, and only one Utah location was praised by reviewers in this year’s rankings.
And it made the Top 10!
According to the site, Slackwater is definitely Yelp-worthy, with its multiple locations across northern Utah coming in at No. 9 among the top 100.
“For those who love their pizzas with a side of pop culture, this popular Utah chain hits the spot,” Yelp wrote.
Sharing what they love about Slackwater, reviewers highlighted the “eye-popping, 300-strong, beer menu,” which Yelp said is tailored to each of the restaurant’s locations in Salt Lake City, Sandy, Ogden, Herriman and Provo.
Others gushed over the wide assortment of pizzas fired up at Slackwater.
“I don’t know what sort of magic they infuse in their pizza, but yassssss! The crust is almost flaky and melt in your mouth, with perhaps a honey sweetness,” wrote reviewer Kaysha.
Yelp said its Top 100 list is created through a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.
San Antonio Spurs (30-14, second in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (15-29, 13th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Utah hosts the San Antonio Spurs after Keyonte George scored 43 points in the Utah Jazz’s 127-122 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Jazz are 9-21 against Western Conference opponents. Utah allows the most points in the league, giving up 127.4 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 49.4%.
The Spurs have gone 17-12 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 25.9 assists per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 7.0.
The Jazz are shooting 46.7% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points higher than the 45.9% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs’ 47.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.2 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (49.4%).
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Spurs won 123-110 in the last matchup on Jan. 19. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, and George led the Jazz with 30 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: George is averaging 24.4 points and 6.7 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 20.2 points and six assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 22.1 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 46.5% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 118.1 points, 43.3 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.7 points per game.
Spurs: 5-5, averaging 109.7 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Kevin Love: day to day (rest), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Spurs: Devin Vassell: out (thigh).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Why new coach Brian O’Connor embraces Mississippi State baseball’s lofty preseason rankings: ‘Bring it on’
Bills legalizing driverless cars clear a Missouri House committee
Gov. Gianforte, MSU Increase Opportunities for Montana Companies in Defense Industry | Explore Big Sky
Nebraska quarterback commit explains transfer to Omaha high school
Medical update released on boy in vehicle vs. child crash
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Judge rules NYC’s lone Republican congressional district unconstitutional, orders redraw
French firm Lactalis latest to recall baby formula amid contamination scare
Autopsy finds Cuban immigrant in ICE custody died of homicide due to asphyxia
Supreme Court appears ready to keep Lisa Cook on Federal Reserve board despite Trump efforts to fire her
Greenland, NATO and war: Fact-checking Trump’s Davos speech
-
Sports4 days agoMiami’s Carson Beck turns heads with stunning admission about attending classes as college athlete
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoSchool Closings: List of closures across metro Detroit
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Myths and Stories That Inspired Recent Books
-
Lifestyle1 week agoJulio Iglesias accused of sexual assault as Spanish prosecutors study the allegations
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Lego Unveils New Smart Brick
-
Pittsburg, PA3 days agoSean McDermott Should Be Steelers Next Head Coach
-
Education1 week ago
How a Syrian Hiking Club Is Rediscovering the Country
-
Sports2 days agoMiami star throws punch at Indiana player after national championship loss