Impact of AI in the 2024 election.
In 2024, around 4 billion people worldwide are expected to participate in national elections, representing roughly half of the global population. Countries like India, the US, Russia, and the UK will hold elections, expected to impact internal issues (economy, stability) and external matters (international relations, human rights, migration).
The Role of Generative AI in Shaping Political Campaigns
As the world gets ready for these elections, it’s crucial to investigate how these pivotal events can be impacted or manipulated by one of today’s cutting-edge technologies, such as Generative AI. This powerful technology is poised to revolutionize political campaigns, with both positive and negative impacts. It will directly influence how we engage in this democratic process.
OpenAI, in their recent blog, stated, ‘We’re working to prevent abuse, provide transparency on AI-generated content, and improve access to accurate voting information.’ OpenAI recognizes that if misused by bad actors, technology like Generative AI can disrupt elections. For instance, just two days before Slovakia’s elections, an audio recording was posted on Facebook. It featured two voices, the leader of the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, and another person from the daily newspaper. They seemed to be discussing how to manipulate the election. Something similar happened in the case of Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, a fake video of him generated by AI went viral in which he could be heard saying that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Vulnerable Communities
In remote areas, where people may not be digitally connected that well, the spread of disinformation, especially during political campaigns, can have a profound impact. Imagine a deep fake video surface, seemingly showing a political candidate saying outrageous things. In areas where people rely more on traditional forms of information, the impact of such misinformation can be severe. It has the potential to damage reputations and heavily influence voting decisions.
Collaborative Solutions
As we see the potential impact AI may have on elections, the public must ensure they check facts and demand ethical and honest campaigns from politicians. To promote ethical and honest political action, governments, tech companies, and community groups need to work together. Raising public awareness is crucial, and initiatives like watermarking content on platforms are gaining traction. Countries like India have begun to classify Deepfakes as impersonation and misinformation, setting precedents for others to follow suit. Despite these efforts, it remains essential to stay vigilant, as the accessibility of open-source models allows anyone with a computer to create false or misleading content.