AI in Politics: Shaping Elections and Fueling Skepticism

Can AI be trusted to shape democracy, or will it undermine it? According to a survey report by Elon University (2024), 78% of Americans expect AI to manipulate social media and spread misinformation in the 2024 election, highlighting that the stakes have never been higher.

With concerns over deepfakes and targeted ads, 65% also worry about AI compromising national security and election integrity (Dartmouth News, 2024).

As AI in politics grows, it raises critical questions about regulation, security, and voter influence, all explored throughout this blog.

Global Concerns About AI in Politics

AI in political influence raises more concerns in emerging economies than developed nations. According to two recent reports, the Ipsos AI Monitor 2024 survey and the UNESCO-Ipsos Global Survey on AI, concerns about AI’s impact on elections vary significantly.

The Ipsos AI Monitor 2024 report reveals that 70% of people in lower HDI countries worry about AI’s influence on elections, while only 40% share these concerns (UNESCO-Ipsos Global Survey, 2024).

AI in Politics: How AI Could Increase Misinformation in 2024 Elections

In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, concerns about AI election misinformation 2024 have intensified. With both major political parties acknowledging the risks, AI’s role in spreading disinformation has become critical, raising questions about its potential to influence voter perception and trust.

A new UChicago Harris/AP-NORC survey shows that most U.S. adults believe AI will amplify the spread of misinformation in the 2024 elections. Both Democrats and Republicans agree on the potential risks posed by AI in politics, highlighting bipartisan concerns over its impact on democratic processes.

• 58% of U.S. adults expect AI to increase false information during the election (AP-NORC, 2023).

• 83% think it would be bad for candidates to use AI to create fake media in political ads (AP-NORC, 2023).

How AI is Shaping Elections: Disinformation, Fake News, and Elections

Disinformation is a major concern, and according to the Ipsos AI Monitor 2024 report, 37% of respondents, on average, believe that AI will make disinformation on the internet worse, while 30% think it will improve.

Most respondents believe AI will exacerbate disinformation in countries like Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand (Ipsos, 2024).

AI-Generated Misinformation and Disinformation

AI is increasingly being used to spread false information through deepfakes and fake media.

• An Elon University 2024 survey found that 73% believe AI will manipulate social media with fake accounts, 70% expect it to create fake content, and 62% are concerned it will suppress voter turnout.
• In January 2024, AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Biden targeted New Hampshire voters. A New York Times report highlighted the growing use of AI in political disinformation, stressing the need for stronger regulations.
• Governments are implementing countermeasures to address AI-generated disinformation. A report by the Brennan Center for Justice (2023) outlines strategies for election officials to identify and respond to AI-driven threats.

This concern was highlighted during the 2023 New Hampshire primary, where AI-generated robocalls imitated President Biden (The Week Magazine, 2023). As Lee Rainie, director of Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, explains:

Election Security and Cyber Vulnerabilities

AI has the potential to disrupt election security through cyber vulnerabilities. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it could be used to exploit weaknesses in election infrastructure, making it crucial to implement stronger cybersecurity measures.

• The Dartmouth National AI survey in 2024 found that 65% of Americans worry AI will harm national security and disrupt election integrity. The survey was conducted nationwide, reflecting widespread concerns about AI’s impact on democracy.
• The Brennan Center for Justice Report 2024 calls for transparency, human oversight, and safeguards to protect election systems from AI threats, emphasizing the need for proactive security measures.

Legislative and Regulatory Efforts

Policymakers are working on new legislation to regulate AI in politics.

• 14 states have passed laws targeting deepfakes in political campaigns (Brennan Center for Justice, 2024).
• The Federal Election Commission is considering regulating AI-generated content in ads (Brennan Center for Justice, 2024).
• Balancing regulation with free speech is a central challenge for policymakers (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023).

AI-Driven Political Campaigns

AI is widely used in political campaigns to generate ads and communicate with voters.

• The 2024 Stanford report, based on academic research, shows how AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly used to create personalized campaign ads and engage voters effectively (Bueno de Mesquita et al., 2023).
• The 2023 Brennan Center report, from a nationwide survey highlights smaller campaigns leveraging AI to compete with well-funded opponents and calls for ethical oversight to address potential risks.

Voter Influence and Engagement

AI helps campaigns engage with voters through personalized content.

• 50% of Americans believe AI will make elections less civil through targeted ads (AP-NORC Center, 2024).
• AI can micro-target voters with tailored messages based on their preferences (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023).
• Personalized content helps engage younger and tech-savvy voters (Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2024).

Public Awareness and Education

There is a strong need for public education on AI and misinformation.

• 52% of Americans need more confidence in detecting altered audio (Elon University, 2024).
• Public education campaigns are essential to teach voters how to spot AI-generated disinformation (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023).
• Collaboration with social media platforms is critical to improving AI literacy (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023).

Privacy vs. Election Integrity

Balancing voter privacy with the need for election security is a growing concern.

• Dartmouth research shows growing concerns over AI monitoring voter behavior and privacy (Dartmouth News, 2024).
• Discussions are ongoing about using identity verification systems while maintaining privacy (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023).
• AI monitoring could increase trust and raise privacy concerns for voters (Brennan Center for Justice, 2024).

AI, Politics, and the Spread of Fake News

Here are some of the facts regarding AI, Politics, and the Spread of Fake News. As AI continues to play a significant role in shaping political narratives, its influence in modern elections is undeniable.

The rise of AI in political campaigns demonstrates both the benefits and risks, as AI tools can be used to enhance campaign strategies and spread disinformation.

1. Global Awareness of AI-Generated Fake News

• Most people across various countries recognize the role of AI in creating realistic fake news stories.
• Countries like Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand report the highest awareness rates.

2. Public Perception of AI in Political Advertising

• 67% of Britons know AI is used in targeted political advertising.
• Despite awareness, most Britons disapprove of AI use in political ads, showing a negative net benefit score.

3. Future of AI-Written News Articles

• 72% of Americans believe AI will write entire news articles, with most viewing this as a negative development.

AI and the U.S. Election: Trust, Misinformation, and Skepticism

Most respondents across surveyed countries believe AI will worsen misinformation, with concern about AI deepfakes ranging from 55% in India to 89% in Indonesia. These concerns highlight the growing impact of AI misuse in 2024 elections and the challenges faced by global democracies in combating disinformation.

Trump, Harris Or AI — Who Will Win?

According to a 2024 KFF report, 31% of U.S. adults express uncertainty about the accuracy of election information, underscoring growing concerns about misinformation.

Mackenzie (2024) also highlights ongoing debates regarding Trump vs. Harris in the election.

• 52% of voters familiar with the debate believe Kamala Harris displayed higher moral integrity than 29% of Donald Trump.
• 53% of those familiar with the debate thought Harris won, compared to 24% who sided with Trump.
• 52% of voters consider Trump too old to work in government, while only 7% said the same of Harris.
• 56% of voters found Harris more dignified than Trump, who was favored by 24%.

In general, skepticism wins out when people are asked what they think of voters and candidates using AI for election-related activities:

Here is what the voters believe about using AI for election-related activities (Mackenzie, 2024)

U.S. adults surveyed believe that technology companies are most responsible for preventing AI-generated false or misleading information in the 2024 presidential elections.

This reflects broader concerns around the impact of AI in election 2024 and highlights the urgent need for tech companies to take proactive measures to ensure election integrity.

Recent Case Studies of AI and Politics

AI technology increasingly influences political landscapes, raising concerns about its role in misinformation and manipulation.

Cases of Deepfakes in the United States 2024

The rise of deepfakes in the U.S. has brought new challenges to political integrity and public trust ahead of the 2024 elections.

1. Deepfake in 2024 US Election: CNBC reported a deepfake of President Joe Biden urging New Hampshire voters not to vote in the primary (CNBC, 2024).
2. Political Deepfakes on the Rise: Former President Trump claimed a photo with E. Jean Carroll was AI-generated but was confirmed to be authentic (All About AI, 2024).
3. $25 Million Deepfake Fraud: CNN reported a finance worker lost $25 million after a deepfake video call with a fake CFO (CNN, 2023).
4. Taylor Swift Deepfake: NBC reported deep fakes on X falsely showing Taylor Swift supporting Donald Trump (NBC, 2024).
5. Global Deepfake Surge: A Sumsub report revealed a tenfold rise in global deep fakes from 2022 to 2023, with a 1,530% increase in APAC (Sumsub, 2023).

These examples underscore the growing threat of political deepfakes, which are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. The use of AI-generated deepfakes in elections poses significant risks to public trust, making it critical to address this issue as part of broader efforts to protect democratic processes.

FAQs: AI in Politics

Conclusion

The growing role of AI in politics is transforming elections and raising concerns across the globe. While AI can potentially improve campaign strategies and voter engagement, it poses significant challenges regarding misinformation, deepfakes, and election security.

With 78% of Americans expecting AI to influence the 2024 election by manipulating information, the call for robust regulations, transparency, and public education is stronger than ever.

As we move forward, balancing the innovative use of AI with ethical practices will be key to ensuring the integrity of future elections.