As the 2024 US presidential elections approach, we can start to reflect on how the campaigns on both sides have played out and how technologies have played a role. As many media outlets predicted, especially AI would heavily influence these elections, but this did not always play out as anticipated.
Over 30 tech companies had shifted their focus to the elections and pitched AI tools to the campaigns, offering everything from AI generated videos to automated voter outreach. However, skepticism among voters has been a major barrier. A good example is the democrat Matthew Diemer who ran for Congress in Ohio and experienced this firsthand when voters hung up after only a few seconds during AI-powered robocalls in his campaign.
Differently, AI’s presence is also felt through political memes, which have the potential to spread harmful narratives, although often being absurd. A recent report by The Associated Press highlights how Trump supporters have used AI to create surreal, sometimes offensive imagery. Even though these AI-generated images are often exaggerated, they can still spread false information and fuel divisive rhetoric.
The growing use of AI in politics poses both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, tools like chatbots and AI generated content could make campaigns more efficient, allowing candidates to engage with voters at scale. But on the other hand, voter distrust and the potential for deepfakes and disinformation makes AI a double-edged sword.
In my opinion, one of the key issues is trust. Voters have suspicions of automated, impersonal engagement and the rapid spread of misleading AI generated content only worsens this. AI can help make campaigns operate more smoothly, but it should be used in a transparent and ethical way, or it has the potential to further damage public confidence in elections.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ai-helping-shape-2024-presidential-race-experts-feared-113892548
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/21/technology/ai-election-campaigns.html
Hi Annabel! This post raises such an interesting and timely issue, especially as AI becomes more integrated into significant events like elections. The double-edged nature of AI in elections is clear—it can streamline campaigns but also fuel disinformation and deepen echo chambers. The spread of false information or offensive AI-generated memes could seriously undermine voters’ trust, not just in the technology, but in the entire election process itself. This also raises the question of who gets to decide what’s ethical or transparent use of AI. If deepfakes or AI-generated disinformation can influence undecided voters or reinforce biased views, are we prepared to regulate or limit its use in political campaigns? The issue is not just technical but deeply societal: Is democracy truly served when algorithms play such a central role in how we consume political information?