As AI continues to shape the electoral landscape, a nuanced understanding of its impact is crucial. The 2023 election cycle revealed both the potential benefits and risks of AI in democracy.
The AI Election: A Year of Misconceptions and Surprising Developments
In 2023, the world witnessed a significant rise in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during elections, sparking concerns about misinformation and manipulation. However, as it turns out, the reality is more complex than initially thought.
While there were instances of misleading deepfakes and AI-generated media being used to influence voters, these cases were relatively rare and not as widespread as feared. In fact, many experts argue that the impact of AI on elections was more subtle and nuanced.
The Misleading Deepfakes: A Minority of Cases
Deepfakes, which involve using AI to create fake videos or audio recordings, did circulate during this election cycle. However, these cases were relatively rare and mostly confined to specific regions. In Bangladesh, for example, deepfakes encouraged supporters of one party to boycott the vote. Similarly, in other countries, there were instances of politicians using AI-generated media to deny evidence of real events.
The Liar’s Dividend: A Growing Concern
One worrying trend that emerged during this election cycle is the use of synthetic media to discredit legitimate news sources and create confusion among voters. This phenomenon, known as the “liar’s dividend,” allows politicians to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion with ease.
Behind-the-Scenes AI: The Real Story
While deepfakes may have grabbed headlines, the more significant impact of AI on elections was happening behind the scenes. Many campaigns used generative AI tools to write emails, ads, and speeches, as well as assist in strategy and language translation. These uses of AI were not as consumer-facing as deepfakes but had a profound impact on the election process.
AI for Good: The Potential Benefits
Experts like Bruce Schneier argue that AI can have a positive impact on democracy, particularly for small campaigns and local candidates. By providing tools to help connect with voters and file paperwork, AI can level the playing field and give more people a voice in the political process.
In some cases, AI has even been used as a form of protest or resistance against authoritarian regimes. In Belarus, for example, dissidents ran an AI candidate as a symbol of opposition against President Alexander Lukashenko‘s government.
Conclusion
The 2023 election cycle was marked by misconceptions and surprising developments in the use of AI. While there were instances of misleading deepfakes and AI-generated media, these cases were relatively rare. The more significant impact of AI was happening behind the scenes, where generative tools were used to write emails, ads, and speeches, as well as assist in strategy and language translation.
As AI continues to evolve and become more sophisticated, it’s essential to have a nuanced understanding of its potential benefits and risks. By recognizing both the positive and negative impacts of AI on elections, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and transparent democratic process.
