The TED AI Show: Humanity’s first AI election w/ WIRED's Vittoria Elliott
Sep 17, 2024
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Vittoria Elliott, a journalist spearheading WIRED’s AI Elections Projects, dives deep into the intertwining of artificial intelligence and global elections. She discusses how AI is reshaping political landscapes, from deepfakes impacting voter perceptions to the intriguing emergence of AI candidates. Elliott and her host explore the risks of misinformation and the 'Liars Dividend,' highlighting the delicate balance between AI's potential benefits and the pressing challenges it poses to democracy. Tune in for insights on the future of voting in a tech-driven world!
The integration of AI in politics is transforming election dynamics, with tools like deepfakes posing significant risks to voter perception and misinformation.
Learning from global examples of AI in elections, the U.S. can better prepare for challenges and opportunities in its electoral landscape.
Deep dives
The First AI Election
The upcoming elections are marked as the first to feature AI technology prominently, highlighting a new landscape in political campaigning. The introduction of AI-driven tools such as image generation and deepfakes creates challenges and opportunities that have not been fully realized yet. For instance, the proliferation of photorealistic AI images of prominent figures like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has already begun to flood social media feeds, leading to concerns about misinformation and the integrity of the electoral process. This shift signals a transformation in how political narratives are constructed and consumed, emphasizing the need for vigilance among voters.
Global Perspectives on AI and Elections
Other countries have been grappling with the implications of AI in elections well before the U.S., where tools like deepfakes have been used both positively and negatively. In India, for example, local politicians have relied on AI-generated robocalls to enhance voter engagement, while in Pakistan, deepfakes of political figures have circulated widely, often with the intent to mislead. The Wired AI Elections Project monitors such occurrences globally, providing insights into how technology affects electoral campaigns across different cultures and regulatory environments. Learning from these examples may help prepare the U.S. for potential pitfalls and innovative applications of AI.
Deepfakes and Political Manipulation
Deepfakes pose a significant risk in the realm of political communication, blurring the lines between reality and fabrications. In the U.S., instances like the unauthorized deepfake of Vice President Kamala Harris contributed to the dissemination of misleading narratives, even when viewers recognized it as fake. Moreover, AI-generated content can resonate emotionally with audiences, regardless of accuracy, potentially influencing voter perceptions and decision-making. This highlights the adaptability of technology in shaping political discourse, further emphasizing the importance of critical media literacy among the public.
The Responsibility of Tech Companies
As AI becomes more integrated into the electoral process, social media platforms face challenges in regulating AI-generated content. Current measures, such as labeling or watermarking AI-created media, may lack effectiveness if bad actors exploit loopholes. The reliance on voluntary compliance raises questions about the platforms’ responsibility in ensuring transparency and accuracy in political advertising. With trust in institutions waning, the potential for misinformation to harm democratic processes underscores the urgency for tech companies to reassess their approaches and invest in better safeguards and moderation practices.
2024 is the biggest election year in modern history, with over 50 countries going out to the polls across the globe. And artificial intelligence has fully seeped into global politics – from deepfakes to AI bots that can ingest thousands and thousands of documents to make policy decisions. Bilawal talks with journalist Vittoria Elliot, who’s been leading on WIRED’s AI Elections Projects, to discuss how AI is reshaping the political landscape in surprising ways. The two explore the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre – and share what the U.S. can learn from other countries to adapt and critically engage with "the new normal."