When the scheme was finally uncovered, there was widespread media coverage and Senate hearings, and social media platforms made changes in the way they verified users. A decade on, while the IRA is no more, disinformation campaigns have continued to evolve, including the use of AI technology to create fake websites and deepfake videos. A new paper, published in Science on Thursday, predicts an imminent step-change in how disinformation campaigns will be conducted. These AI swarms, the researchers believe, could deliver society-wide shifts in viewpoint that not only sway elections but ultimately bring about the end of democracy—unless steps are taken now to prevent it. These systems would also be able to adapt in real time to respond to signals shared by the social media platforms and in conversation with real humans.