The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: Will Generative AI Reshape Elections?
Nov 15, 2025
Matt Perault and Scott Babwah Brennen, researchers at the UNC Center on Technology Policy, delve into the implications of generative AI on elections. They explore the potential harms of AI-driven political ads, highlighting issues like misinformation and voter turnout. The duo analyzes whether the risks are exaggerated and examines local races' vulnerability. They also propose policy recommendations, including public-information campaigns and enforcing voting laws, as we gear up for the 2024 election cycle.
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Episode notes
Some Harms Are Overstated, Others Underrated
- Many alleged harms of generative AI in political ads are overstated according to existing academic literature.
- The report flags greater concern for down-ballot races and AI-driven bias than for national persuasion effects.
Target Harms, Not Technology
- Focus public policy on electoral harms rather than banning technologies outright.
- Invest in learning and evidence-gathering to inform future governance decisions.
Ads Rarely Flip Presidential Votes
- The literature suggests political ads rarely change voters' candidate choices in general elections.
- Ads do influence behaviors like turnout, donations, and data collection more reliably than persuasion.