'If You Can Keep It': AI In This Election And Beyond
Oct 21, 2024
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Ben Nemo, a Principal threat investigator at OpenAI, Dan Merica, an investigative reporter at the Associated Press, and Valerie Wurzbacher, a Fellow at the Brookings Institution, dive into AI's unprecedented role in the 2024 election. They discuss the lack of regulations allowing AI manipulation, with examples like AI-generated images impacting voters. The trio highlights foreign interference tactics and the challenges in combating misinformation. They emphasize the urgency for tech companies and government collaboration to safeguard democracy in this new landscape.
AI's minimal regulations in the upcoming 2024 election raise concerns about potential manipulation and misinformation efforts by various actors.
Foreign entities like Russia and Iran are adapting their strategies using AI to produce more convincing content for political influence.
Deep dives
The Potential Impact of AI on Elections
Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play a significant role in the 2024 election, marking the first presidential election where this technology will be actively utilized. Currently, there are minimal regulations governing the use of AI in politics, which raises concerns about the potential for manipulation and misinformation. AI's capability to generate realistic images and text may be exploited by various actors, including foreign entities like Russia and Iran, to influence public perception and voter behavior. High-profile instances of AI misuse, such as the creation of fake endorsements and manipulated media, highlight the ethical dilemmas and challenges that lie ahead in maintaining electoral integrity.
Foreign Interference and AI
Foreign actors are adapting their strategies by using AI to enhance their political interference efforts, learning from past mistakes to produce more convincing content. Examples include Russian and Iranian operatives utilizing AI to generate English text that appears more natural, as well as creating eye-catching imagery to attract attention on social media platforms. Despite these advancements, there are still challenges, such as occasional blunders where AI-generated content reveals its inauthentic origins. This ongoing effort indicates a blend of old tactics with new technology, as both sides—threat actors and defenders—experiment with AI to influence voter sentiment.
The Role of Social Media in AI Dynamics
Social media platforms serve as critical battlegrounds for the dissemination of AI-generated content and misinformation during elections. The dynamics of engagement on these platforms reveal how challenging it is for any single account to build an audience, making viral success difficult for foreign influence operations. While certain AI-generated memes and images may aim for fun or humorous engagement, the intention to sway opinions persists, particularly among users predisposed to certain beliefs. Moreover, the presence of influencers and prominent figures sharing AI content amplifies its reach and potential impact on voter perceptions.
Regulatory Challenges and Future Considerations
The lack of established regulations for AI utilization in electioneering poses significant risks, as current guidelines are insufficient to address the rapid evolution of AI technology. Conversations around accountability and responsible use of AI are ongoing, emphasizing the need for policymakers to develop comprehensive measures that protect democracy. Experts suggest that American lawmakers must prioritize regulations to manage AI's influence on elections effectively, involving collaborative efforts across the technology and political landscapes. Closing the gaps in legislation now could prevent the possible erosion of trust in electoral processes and safeguard the integrity of future democratic practices.
2024 is the first presidential election with AI in play, and currently, there are few regulations about the use of AI in politics. Last month, the Federal Election Commission decided not to impose new rules on the tech ahead of the election. That means it's fair game and it's being used as such.
In August, former president Donald Trump posted a picture of an AI generated image of Taylor Swift endorsing him. It led to a response from the pop mega star. In July, Elon Musk shared a video on X that cloned Vice President Kamala Harris' voice saying things she never said.
Beyond the memes, U.S. intelligence officials say Russia and Iran are using the technology to influence our election. OpenAI, the company behind tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E, noticed these efforts as well.
We discuss how AI will affect this election, and elections going forward.