What The Next President Will Do about Artificial Intelligence
Oct 18, 2024
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Ben Guarino, associate technology editor at Scientific American, dives into the crucial topic of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on future U.S. policies. He examines the differing AI stances from candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The discussion highlights how rapidly evolving AI technologies might influence misinformation during elections, especially with deepfakes. Guarino emphasizes the pressing need for effective regulation to navigate the challenges posed by AI in a democratic landscape.
The next U.S. president's approach to AI will significantly influence regulatory frameworks, reflecting their broader political ideologies and safety concerns.
The rise of AI-driven misinformation poses challenges for election integrity, necessitating increased public awareness and source verification among voters.
Deep dives
The Political Ascendancy of AI
Artificial intelligence has recently emerged as a significant political issue, evidenced by its mention in mainstream political debates for the first time during the 2020 presidential election. The heightened awareness surrounding AI can be traced back to the rapid development of generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, and their integration into everyday software, making AI a part of daily life for many people. This growing integration emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks, as political discourse increasingly recognizes the necessity of governing AI's influence on society. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, the candidates' varying approaches to AI policy will significantly impact its governance and the future of technology in America.
Divergent Approaches to AI Regulation
The candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, demonstrate contrasting views on AI and its regulation, which reflect their broader political ideologies. Harris emphasizes AI safety and has actively engaged in international dialogues focused on AI governance, framing the potential risks as existential even at the individual level. In contrast, Trump's discussions of AI have been more ambiguous, characterized by an understanding of its dangers without proposing concrete regulatory actions. The differing stances underscore the importance of the presidential election in shaping foundational AI policies that will guide future technological developments.
Misinformation Risks in the Age of AI
The prevalence of AI-driven misinformation presents considerable challenges, particularly as election seasons approach and the potential for manipulated content increases. Various incidents, such as deepfakes of political figures, exemplify the dangers associated with AI misuse in campaigns, prompting calls for awareness and vigilance among voters. Experts suggest that while misinformation has not reached alarming levels yet, the risk remains high for post-election scenarios where AI-generated content could mislead the public. Encouraging individuals to verify sources and trust established media remains crucial in combating misinformation exacerbated by AI technologies.
There’s a lot of excitement and apprehension over the seemingly sudden proliferation of artificial intelligence in just about everything. Technological progress often outpaces regulation, and the next U.S. president will set the tone for AI policy. Scientific American’s associate technology editor Ben Guarino walks us through AI policies and plans from Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Plus, we discuss the role AI generated images, videos and even voices could play in spreading misinformation around the election.
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with associate technology editor Ben Guarino. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.