People in the United States can now use an artificial intelligence video generator of OpenAI called Sora, which was made publicly available on Monday (Dec 9).

In February, OpenAI first presented Sora but at that time it was accessible to only select filmmakers, artists and safety testers.&nbsp;

After the announcement of Sora on Monday (Dec 9), the website of OpenAI did not allow new sign-ups because of heavy traffic.

<h2>What is Sora?</h2>

Sora is a text-to-video generator tool which is capable of creating AI video clips on the basis of the written prompts of a user.

For example, the website of OpenAI had the prompt of “a wide, serene shot of a family of woolly mammoths in an open desert”.

The video generated from this prompt showed a group of three extinct creatures who were walking slowly through sand dunes.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/jeff-bezos-openai-back-robot-startup-physical-intelligence-at-24-billion-valuation-773356">Jeff Bezos, OpenAI back robot startup physical intelligence at $2.4 billion valuation</a>

“We hope this early version of Sora will enable people everywhere to explore new forms of creativity, tell their stories, and push the boundaries of what’s possible with video storytelling,” wrote OpenAI in a blog post.

OpenAI is famous for creating the popular chatbot ChatGPT but also has its branches in other forms of generative AI.&nbsp;

The platform works on a voice-cloning tool and has integrated the image generation tool Dall-E into the functions of ChatGPT. The AI market is being led by this Microsoft-backed company and it is now valued at around $160 billion.

Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee was allowed to test the tool by OpenAI ahead of Sora’s release. He stated that the results were “horrifying and inspiring at the same time”.

<h2>Redditers discuss the launch of OpenAI</h2>

In October, Reddit users&nbsp;asked OpenAI executives about the release date of Sora and asked whether the launch was being delayed “due to the amount of compute/time required for inference or due to safety.”&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/openai-takes-on-googles-search-engine-by-adding-new-search-function-to-chatgpt-772505">OpenAI takes on Google's search engine by adding new search function to ChatGPT</a>

OpenAI’s product chief Kevin Weil in his response&nbsp;said, “Need to perfect the model, need to get safety/impersonation/other things right, and need to scale compute!”

“We obviously have a big target on our back as OpenAI,”&nbsp;Rohan Sahai, OpenAI’s Sora product lead, said on the live stream, and added&nbsp;that illegal use of the technology needs to be prevented by the company. “But we also want to balance that with creative expression," he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

People in the United States can now use an artificial intelligence video generator of OpenAI called Sora, which was made publicly available on Monday (Dec 9). In February, OpenAI first presented Sora but at that time it was accessible to only select filmmakers, artists and safety testers.

People in the United States can now use an artificial intelligence video generator of OpenAI called Sora, which was made publicly available on Monday (Dec 9). In February, OpenAI first presented Sora but at that time it was accessible to only select filmmakers, artists and safety testers. After the announcement of Sora on Monday (Dec 9), the website of OpenAI did not allow new sign-ups because of heavy traffic. What is Sora? Sora is a text-to-video generator tool which is capable of creating AI video clips on the basis of the written prompts of a user. For example, the website of OpenAI had the prompt of “a wide, serene shot of a family of woolly mammoths in an open desert”. The video generated from this prompt showed a group of three extinct creatures who were walking slowly through sand dunes. Also Read: Jeff Bezos, OpenAI back robot startup physical intelligence at $2.4 billion valuation “We hope this early version of Sora will enable people everywhere to explore new forms of creativity, tell their stories, and push the boundaries of what’s possible with video storytelling,” wrote OpenAI in a blog post. OpenAI is famous for creating the popular chatbot ChatGPT but also has its branches in other forms of generative AI. The platform works on a voice-cloning tool and has integrated the image generation tool Dall-E into the functions of ChatGPT. The AI market is being led by this Microsoft-backed company and it is now valued at around $160 billion. Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee was allowed to test the tool by OpenAI ahead of Sora’s release. He stated that the results were “horrifying and inspiring at the same time”. Redditers discuss the launch of OpenAI In October, Reddit users asked OpenAI executives about the release date of Sora and asked whether the launch was being delayed “due to the amount of compute/time required for inference or due to safety.” Also Read: OpenAI takes on Google's search engine by adding new search function to ChatGPT OpenAI’s product chief Kevin Weil in his response said, “Need to perfect the model, need to get safety/impersonation/other things right, and need to scale compute!” “We obviously have a big target on our back as OpenAI,” Rohan Sahai, OpenAI’s Sora product lead, said on the live stream, and added that illegal use of the technology needs to be prevented by the company. “But we also want to balance that with creative expression," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

OpenAI releases its AI video-generation tool Sora to everyone in US

OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence company behind the popular image generator DALL-E, on Tuesday announced the launch of a new tool aimed at detecting whether digital images have been created by AI.

OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence company behind the popular image generator DALL-E, on Tuesday announced the launch of a new tool aimed at detecting whether digital images have been created by AI. Authentication has become a major concern in the fast development of AI, with authorities worried about the proliferation of deep fakes that could disrupt society. According to the company, OpenAI's image detection classifier, which is currently under test, can assess the likelihood that a given image originated from one of the company's generative AI models like DALL-E 3. Also Read: US newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft for copyright infringement in AI training OpenAI said that during internal testing on an earlier version, the tool accurately detected around 98 per cent of DALL-E 3 images while incorrectly flagging less than 0.5 percent of non-AI images. However, the company warned that modified DALL-E 3 images were harder to identify, and that the tool currently flags only about five to 10 percent of images generated by other AI models. Watch: OpenAI launches image detection tool for AI-Generated content concerns OpenAI also said that it would now add watermarks to AI image metadata as more companies sign up to meet the standards from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA). The C2PA is a tech industry initiative that sets a technical standard to determine the provenance and authenticity of digital content, in a process known as watermarking. Facebook giant Meta last month said it would begin labeling AI-generated media beginning in May using the C2PA standard. Google, another AI giant, has also joined the initiative.

OpenAI unveils tool that will tell if images were AI-generated using its DALL-E model

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an engaging discussion with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on various issues ranging from climate change mitigation, women's empowerment and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

They spoke about sustainability, social empowerment on the global stage and the convergence of technology.&nbsp;

Bill Gates, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft,&nbsp;appreciated the technological advancements of India and emphasised the pivotal role of the country in AI innovation.

During the conversation,&nbsp;Gates appreciated the ability of Indians to adopt new technology and also lead the way for the world.

The prime minister asked the Microsoft head to take a selfie with the help of the photo booth on PM's Namo App.

Speaking about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in today's world, PM Modi said, "Historically, during the first and second industrial revolutions we lagged behind because we were a colony. Now, in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution, the digital element is at its core. I am confident that India will gain a lot in this."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/bill-gates-meets-pm-modi-in-india-talks-about-ai-for-public-good-and-innovation-695326">Bill Gates meets PM Modi in India, talks about AI for 'public good' and 'innovation'</a>

"AI is very important. Sometimes, I jokingly say that in our country, we call our mother 'Aai'. Now I say that when a child is born, he says 'Aai' as well as AI as children have become so advanced," he added.&nbsp;

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An insightful interaction with <a href="https://twitter.com/BillGates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillGates</a>. Do watch! <a href="https://t.co/wEhi5Ki24t">https://t.co/wEhi5Ki24t</a>
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The prime minister informed Bill Gates how the government utilised AI during the G20 Summit in 2023.

He further spoke about how AI had translated his Hindi speech into Tamil during the recent Kashi Tamil Sangamam event.&nbsp;

<h2>Using AI as magic tool will lead to grave injustice: PM Modi</h2>

Speaking about the misuse of AI and the issue of deepfake, PM said, "If we use AI as a magic tool, it will perhaps lead to a grave injustice. If AI is relied on out of laziness...then it is the wrong path. I should have a competition with ChatGPT and strive to go ahead of AI."

Meanwhile, Bill Gates said, "These are early days in AI...It will do things that you think are hard and then it will fail to something which you think is easy. It seems like AI is a huge opportunity but there are a few challenges that come with it."

The prime minister suggested that clear watermarks on the AI-generated content should be started.

"If such a good thing (AI) is given to someone without proper training, it is likely to be misused...I suggested that we should start with clear watermarks on AI-generated content. So that nobody is misguided...In a democratic country like India, anybody can use deepfake...It's crucial to acknowledge that deepfake content is AI-generated...We need to think about some dos and don'ts," said the prime minister.

<h2>PM introduces Bill Gates to 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme</h2>

While speaking about the digital revolution in India, PM Modi introduced the 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme to Bill Gates.

"Digital public infrastructure is a major requirement in itself...Women are more open to adopting new technology in India...I have started the 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme...This is going on very successfully. I interact with them these days, they are delighted," said PM Modi.

Speaking about renewable energy in India, PM Modi said, "I am pleased to say that India is making rapid advancements in renewable energy...We want to make advancements in Green Hydrogen."

Watch:&nbsp;India Elections 2024: PM Modi unveils infrastructure projects in Kashmir

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-elections-2024-pm-modi-unveils-infrastructure-projects-in-kashmir-697769/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Meanwhile, Bill Gates appreciating the digital revolution in India in the fields of health, agriculture and education, said, "In here, it is like Digital Government. India is not only adapting technology but it is actually leading the way."

<h2>PM recalls pandemic days in India&nbsp;</h2>

In the candid chat PM Modi recalled the vaccination drive held in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Firstly, I emphasised that our fight against the virus involves everyone. This is not 'Virus vs Government' but the fight of 'Virus vs Life' - this was my first philosophy. Secondly, I started having direct communication with the people of my country from the first day. I publically followed all protocols," said PM Modi.&nbsp;

PM Modi also informed Bill Gates that if the NDA is voted to power again, they will allocate money for research in cervical cancer.

"My new government will allocate funds to scientists for local research in cervical cancer, we want to vaccinate all girls," Modi said.

After the conversation came to an end, Bill Gates gave some nutrition books to the prime minister. The prime minister then presented him with the 'Vocal for Local' gift hampers.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an engaging discussion with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on various issues ranging from climate change mitigation, women's empowerment and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an engaging discussion with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on various issues ranging from climate change mitigation, women's empowerment and Artificial Intelligence (AI). They spoke about sustainability, social empowerment on the global stage and the convergence of technology. Bill Gates, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, appreciated the technological advancements of India and emphasised the pivotal role of the country in AI innovation. During the conversation, Gates appreciated the ability of Indians to adopt new technology and also lead the way for the world. The prime minister asked the Microsoft head to take a selfie with the help of the photo booth on PM's Namo App. Speaking about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in today's world, PM Modi said, "Historically, during the first and second industrial revolutions we lagged behind because we were a colony. Now, in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution, the digital element is at its core. I am confident that India will gain a lot in this." Also Read: Bill Gates meets PM Modi in India, talks about AI for 'public good' and 'innovation' "AI is very important. Sometimes, I jokingly say that in our country, we call our mother 'Aai'. Now I say that when a child is born, he says 'Aai' as well as AI as children have become so advanced," he added. An insightful interaction with @BillGates. Do watch! https://t.co/wEhi5Ki24t — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 29, 2024 × The prime minister informed Bill Gates how the government utilised AI during the G20 Summit in 2023. He further spoke about how AI had translated his Hindi speech into Tamil during the recent Kashi Tamil Sangamam event. Using AI as magic tool will lead to grave injustice: PM Modi Speaking about the misuse of AI and the issue of deepfake, PM said, "If we use AI as a magic tool, it will perhaps lead to a grave injustice. If AI is relied on out of laziness...then it is the wrong path. I should have a competition with ChatGPT and strive to go ahead of AI." Meanwhile, Bill Gates said, "These are early days in AI...It will do things that you think are hard and then it will fail to something which you think is easy. It seems like AI is a huge opportunity but there are a few challenges that come with it." The prime minister suggested that clear watermarks on the AI-generated content should be started. "If such a good thing (AI) is given to someone without proper training, it is likely to be misused...I suggested that we should start with clear watermarks on AI-generated content. So that nobody is misguided...In a democratic country like India, anybody can use deepfake...It's crucial to acknowledge that deepfake content is AI-generated...We need to think about some dos and don'ts," said the prime minister. PM introduces Bill Gates to 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme While speaking about the digital revolution in India, PM Modi introduced the 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme to Bill Gates. "Digital public infrastructure is a major requirement in itself...Women are more open to adopting new technology in India...I have started the 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme...This is going on very successfully. I interact with them these days, they are delighted," said PM Modi. Speaking about renewable energy in India, PM Modi said, "I am pleased to say that India is making rapid advancements in renewable energy...We want to make advancements in Green Hydrogen." Watch: India Elections 2024: PM Modi unveils infrastructure projects in Kashmir Meanwhile, Bill Gates appreciating the digital revolution in India in the fields of health, agriculture and education, said, "In here, it is like Digital Government. India is not only adapting technology but it is actually leading the way." PM recalls pandemic days in India In the candid chat PM Modi recalled the vaccination drive held in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Firstly, I emphasised that our fight against the virus involves everyone. This is not 'Virus vs Government' but the fight of 'Virus vs Life' - this was my first philosophy. Secondly, I started having direct communication with the people of my country from the first day. I publically followed all protocols," said PM Modi. PM Modi also informed Bill Gates that if the NDA is voted to power again, they will allocate money for research in cervical cancer. "My new government will allocate funds to scientists for local research in cervical cancer, we want to vaccinate all girls," Modi said. After the conversation came to an end, Bill Gates gave some nutrition books to the prime minister. The prime minister then presented him with the 'Vocal for Local' gift hampers. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian PM Modi, in conversation with Bill Gates, says AI should not be a tool for the lazy

An artificial intelligence (AI) model has been created by scientists, doctors and researchers which can identify cancer accurately, marking a developmental stage which can speed up the diagnosis of the disease and fast-track treatment.

Cancer has become a leading cause of fatalities throughout the world, resulting in around 10 million deaths every year, which is one in six patients, according to the World Health Organization.

However, in many cases, cancer can be cured and lives can be saved if it is detected early and swift treatment is provided to patients.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/explained-ai-journalism-can-artificial-intelligence-replace-journalists-587630">Explained | AI journalism: Can artificial intelligence replace journalists?</a>

Experts from Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust along with Imperial College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, designed the AI tool which can identify if abnormal growths seen on a person's CT scans are cancerous.

As per the study, the performance of the algorithm has been more efficient and effective compared to the current methods. The research's findings were published in the eBioMedicine journal of the Lancet.

“In the future, we hope it will improve early detection and potentially make cancer treatment more successful by highlighting high-risk patients and fast-tracking them to earlier intervention,” stated Dr Benjamin Hunter, a clinical research fellow at Imperial and a clinical oncology registrar who works at the Royal Marsden.

The research team used CT scans of around 500 patients who had large lung nodules to create an AI algorithm with the use of radiomics. Through the technique, vital information can be extracted from medical images that the human eye fails to easily spot.

A measure, known as area under the curve (AUC), was used in the study to test the model's effectiveness at predicting cancer.

If a model gets an AUC of 1 it will be considered, with 0.5 indicating that it is randomly guessing. The results of the study showed that the risk of cancer in each nodule can be identified by the AI model with an AUC of 0.87.

“According to these initial results, our model appears to identify cancerous large lung nodules accurately,” said Hunter. “Next, we plan to test the technology on patients with large lung nodules in the clinic to see if it can accurately predict their risk of lung cancer,” he added.

WATCH | Artificial Intelligence has changed the music industry forever, here's how

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Libra study’s chief investigator, Dr Richard Lee said, “Through this work, we hope to push boundaries to speed up the detection of the disease using innovative technologies such as AI.”

Speaking about lung cancer which is considered the biggest reason for cancer mortality, Lee stated, “People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are much more likely to survive for five years when compared with those whose cancer is caught late. This means it is a priority we find ways to speed up the detection of the disease, and this study – which is the first to develop a radiomics model specifically focused on large lung nodules – could one-day support clinicians in identifying high-risk patients.”

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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An artificial intelligence (AI) model has been created by scientists, doctors and researchers which can identify cancer accurately, marking a developmental stage which can speed up the diagnosis of the disease and fast-track treatment.

An artificial intelligence (AI) model has been created by scientists, doctors and researchers which can identify cancer accurately, marking a developmental stage which can speed up the diagnosis of the disease and fast-track treatment. Cancer has become a leading cause of fatalities throughout the world, resulting in around 10 million deaths every year, which is one in six patients, according to the World Health Organization. However, in many cases, cancer can be cured and lives can be saved if it is detected early and swift treatment is provided to patients. ALSO READ | Explained | AI journalism: Can artificial intelligence replace journalists? Experts from Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust along with Imperial College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, designed the AI tool which can identify if abnormal growths seen on a person's CT scans are cancerous. As per the study, the performance of the algorithm has been more efficient and effective compared to the current methods. The research's findings were published in the eBioMedicine journal of the Lancet. “In the future, we hope it will improve early detection and potentially make cancer treatment more successful by highlighting high-risk patients and fast-tracking them to earlier intervention,” stated Dr Benjamin Hunter, a clinical research fellow at Imperial and a clinical oncology registrar who works at the Royal Marsden. The research team used CT scans of around 500 patients who had large lung nodules to create an AI algorithm with the use of radiomics. Through the technique, vital information can be extracted from medical images that the human eye fails to easily spot. A measure, known as area under the curve (AUC), was used in the study to test the model's effectiveness at predicting cancer. If a model gets an AUC of 1 it will be considered, with 0.5 indicating that it is randomly guessing. The results of the study showed that the risk of cancer in each nodule can be identified by the AI model with an AUC of 0.87. “According to these initial results, our model appears to identify cancerous large lung nodules accurately,” said Hunter. “Next, we plan to test the technology on patients with large lung nodules in the clinic to see if it can accurately predict their risk of lung cancer,” he added. WATCH | Artificial Intelligence has changed the music industry forever, here's how Libra study’s chief investigator, Dr Richard Lee said, “Through this work, we hope to push boundaries to speed up the detection of the disease using innovative technologies such as AI.” Speaking about lung cancer which is considered the biggest reason for cancer mortality, Lee stated, “People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are much more likely to survive for five years when compared with those whose cancer is caught late. This means it is a priority we find ways to speed up the detection of the disease, and this study – which is the first to develop a radiomics model specifically focused on large lung nodules – could one-day support clinicians in identifying high-risk patients.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

AI to defeat cancer? Doctors create AI tool that can detect disease

Reprising the rigged-election belief that has become a mantra among their supporters, Republican politicians in at least three states are proposing to establish police forces to hunt exclusively for voter fraud and other election crimes, a category of offenses that experts say is tiny at best.

The plans are part of a new wave of initiatives that Republicans say are directed at voter fraud. They are being condemned by voting rights advocates and even some local election supervisors, who call them costly and unnecessary appeasement of the Republican base that will select primary-election winners for this November’s midterms and the 2024 presidential race.

The next round of voting clashes comes after the apparent demise of Democratic voting rights legislation in Washington on Thursday. It is a reminder that although the Democratic agenda in Washington seems dead, Republican state-level efforts to make voting harder show no sign of slowing down.

Supporters say the added enforcement will root out instances of fraud and assure the public that everything possible is being done to make sure that American elections are accurate and legitimate. Critics say the efforts can easily be abused and used as political cudgels or efforts to intimidate people from registering and voting. And Democrats say the main reason Republican voters have lost faith in the electoral system is because of the incessant Republican focus on almost entirely imagined fraud.

The most concrete proposal is in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the state Legislature last week for $5.7 million to create a 52-person “election crimes and security” force in the secretary of state’s office. The plan, which DeSantis has been touting since fall, would include 20 sworn police officers and field offices statewide.

That was followed Thursday by a pledge by David Perdue, the former Georgia senator who is a Republican candidate for governor, to create his own force of election police “to make Georgia elections the safest and securest in the country.” Perdue, who lost his Senate seat in 2020, claimed that Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican seeking reelection, weakened election standards and refused to investigate claims of fraud after President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state.

In Arizona, state Sen. Wendy Rogers, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen election, has filed legislation to establish a $5 million “bureau of elections” in the governor’s office with the power to subpoena witnesses and impound election equipment.

Rogers' bill probably faces an uphill road in the Legislature, where Republicans are only narrowly in control and have been battered for their support of a widely ridiculed multimillion-dollar inquiry into 2020 election results. Prospects for the Florida and Georgia proposals are less clear.

The proposals are the latest twist in a decadeslong crusade by Republicans against election fraud that has grown rapidly since Trump’s election loss in 2020 and his false claim that victory was stolen from him.

DeSantis took a tough line in November when he unveiled his proposal, saying the new unit would chase crimes that local election officials shrug at. “There’ll be people, if you see someone ballot harvesting, you know, what do you do? If you call into the election office, a lot of times they don’t do anything,” he said at an appearance in West Palm Beach.

“I guarantee you this,” he added. “The first person that gets caught, no one is going to want to do it again after that.”

None of the three states — and for that matter, none of the other 47 and the District of Columbia — reported any more than a minuscule number of election fraud cases after the 2020 races. DeSantis said after the 2020 vote that his was “the state that did it right and that other states should emulate.” The only notable hint of irregularity in Florida was the recent arrest on fraud charges of four men in a retirement complex north of Orlando. At least two of them appeared to be winter Floridians accused of casting ballots both there and in more frigid states to the north.

But DeSantis and Perdue say their strike forces are still needed to root out other election irregularities and to bolster their constituents’ sagging faith in the honesty of the vote. The same rationale has powered so-called audits of election results and clampdowns on election rules by Republican-run legislatures across the country.

Sweeping election-law revisions enacted by Florida and Georgia legislators last spring sharply limit the use of popular drop boxes for submitting absentee ballots, require identification to obtain mail-in ballots, make it harder to conduct voter-registration drives, and restrict or ban interactions — such as handing out snacks or water — with voters waiting in line to cast ballots.

Trump comfortably won Florida by about 370,000 votes in 2020, and his narrow losses in Arizona and Georgia were confirmed by expert audits, recounts and even the notorious Cyber Ninjas inquiry into the vote in Maricopa County.

“We don’t need further investigations into elections that are freely and fairly conducted,” said Alex Gulotta, Arizona director of the advocacy group All Voting Is Local. “We’ve established that again and again and again. This is more pablum to the people who believe in fraud and conspiracy theories and lies that the last election was stolen.”

Neither the new laws nor election autopsies appear to have shaken the conviction of many Trump supporters that the election system is suspect. Some scholars say they see the police forces as the latest bid by politicians to scratch that itch.

Bids to curb so-called fraud are becoming standard for Republican candidates who want to win over voters, Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in an interview. “Whoever is the nominee in 2024, whether it’s Trump or anyone else, it will likely be part of their platform,” Burden said.

The idea of an election police force is not new, even in the states where they are being proposed. In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger already oversees 23 investigators whose purview includes election irregularities, and an assistant state attorney general exclusively prosecutes crimes in elections, the judiciary and local governments. The Arizona attorney general manages a relatively new “election integrity” investigative unit, and Florida election violations are prosecuted by both state and local authorities, as is true in most states.

Reprising the rigged-election belief that has become a mantra among their supporters, Republican politicians in at least three states are proposing to establish police forces to hunt exclusively for voter fraud and other election crimes, a category of offenses that experts say is tiny at best.

Reprising the rigged-election belief that has become a mantra among their supporters, Republican politicians in at least three states are proposing to establish police forces to hunt exclusively for voter fraud and other election crimes, a category of offenses that experts say is tiny at best. The plans are part of a new wave of initiatives that Republicans say are directed at voter fraud. They are being condemned by voting rights advocates and even some local election supervisors, who call them costly and unnecessary appeasement of the Republican base that will select primary-election winners for this November’s midterms and the 2024 presidential race. The next round of voting clashes comes after the apparent demise of Democratic voting rights legislation in Washington on Thursday. It is a reminder that although the Democratic agenda in Washington seems dead, Republican state-level efforts to make voting harder show no sign of slowing down. Supporters say the added enforcement will root out instances of fraud and assure the public that everything possible is being done to make sure that American elections are accurate and legitimate. Critics say the efforts can easily be abused and used as political cudgels or efforts to intimidate people from registering and voting. And Democrats say the main reason Republican voters have lost faith in the electoral system is because of the incessant Republican focus on almost entirely imagined fraud. The most concrete proposal is in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the state Legislature last week for $5.7 million to create a 52-person “election crimes and security” force in the secretary of state’s office. The plan, which DeSantis has been touting since fall, would include 20 sworn police officers and field offices statewide. That was followed Thursday by a pledge by David Perdue, the former Georgia senator who is a Republican candidate for governor, to create his own force of election police “to make Georgia elections the safest and securest in the country.” Perdue, who lost his Senate seat in 2020, claimed that Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican seeking reelection, weakened election standards and refused to investigate claims of fraud after President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state. In Arizona, state Sen. Wendy Rogers, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen election, has filed legislation to establish a $5 million “bureau of elections” in the governor’s office with the power to subpoena witnesses and impound election equipment. Rogers' bill probably faces an uphill road in the Legislature, where Republicans are only narrowly in control and have been battered for their support of a widely ridiculed multimillion-dollar inquiry into 2020 election results. Prospects for the Florida and Georgia proposals are less clear. The proposals are the latest twist in a decadeslong crusade by Republicans against election fraud that has grown rapidly since Trump’s election loss in 2020 and his false claim that victory was stolen from him. DeSantis took a tough line in November when he unveiled his proposal, saying the new unit would chase crimes that local election officials shrug at. “There’ll be people, if you see someone ballot harvesting, you know, what do you do? If you call into the election office, a lot of times they don’t do anything,” he said at an appearance in West Palm Beach. “I guarantee you this,” he added. “The first person that gets caught, no one is going to want to do it again after that.” None of the three states — and for that matter, none of the other 47 and the District of Columbia — reported any more than a minuscule number of election fraud cases after the 2020 races. DeSantis said after the 2020 vote that his was “the state that did it right and that other states should emulate.” The only notable hint of irregularity in Florida was the recent arrest on fraud charges of four men in a retirement complex north of Orlando. At least two of them appeared to be winter Floridians accused of casting ballots both there and in more frigid states to the north. But DeSantis and Perdue say their strike forces are still needed to root out other election irregularities and to bolster their constituents’ sagging faith in the honesty of the vote. The same rationale has powered so-called audits of election results and clampdowns on election rules by Republican-run legislatures across the country. Sweeping election-law revisions enacted by Florida and Georgia legislators last spring sharply limit the use of popular drop boxes for submitting absentee ballots, require identification to obtain mail-in ballots, make it harder to conduct voter-registration drives, and restrict or ban interactions — such as handing out snacks or water — with voters waiting in line to cast ballots. Trump comfortably won Florida by about 370,000 votes in 2020, and his narrow losses in Arizona and Georgia were confirmed by expert audits, recounts and even the notorious Cyber Ninjas inquiry into the vote in Maricopa County. “We don’t need further investigations into elections that are freely and fairly conducted,” said Alex Gulotta, Arizona director of the advocacy group All Voting Is Local. “We’ve established that again and again and again. This is more pablum to the people who believe in fraud and conspiracy theories and lies that the last election was stolen.” Neither the new laws nor election autopsies appear to have shaken the conviction of many Trump supporters that the election system is suspect. Some scholars say they see the police forces as the latest bid by politicians to scratch that itch. Bids to curb so-called fraud are becoming standard for Republican candidates who want to win over voters, Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in an interview. “Whoever is the nominee in 2024, whether it’s Trump or anyone else, it will likely be part of their platform,” Burden said. The idea of an election police force is not new, even in the states where they are being proposed. In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger already oversees 23 investigators whose purview includes election irregularities, and an assistant state attorney general exclusively prosecutes crimes in elections, the judiciary and local governments. The Arizona attorney general manages a relatively new “election integrity” investigative unit, and Florida election violations are prosecuted by both state and local authorities, as is true in most states.

Republicans want new tool in elusive search for voter fraud: Election police

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