AI in Politics: Shaping Elections and Fueling Skepticism

  • Editor
  • December 24, 2024
    Updated
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.


Top AI Politics Statistics (Editor’s Pick)

  • 78% of Americans believe AI will be used to manipulate social media, create fake information, and influence election outcomes (Elon University, 2024).
  • 65% of Americans are concerned about AI’s impact on national security and election integrity (Dartmouth News, 2024).
  • 70% expect AI-generated deepfakes and fake media to play a role in the upcoming election (Elon University, 2024).
  • 93% support penalizing candidates who maliciously use AI to alter media (Elon University, 2024).
  • 50% of Americans believe AI will make elections less civil through targeted ads (AP-NORC, 2024).
  • 14 states have enacted laws regulating AI use in political campaigns and deepfakes (Brennan Center for Justice, 2024).


Global Concerns About AI in Politics

Artificial Intelligence (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).

Explore how AI is influencing politics and beyond in 10 Bold AI Predictions for a Groundbreaking 2025. Discover insights shaping the intersection of technology and governance.


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, raising concerns about its role in spreading disinformation in election 2024.

  • 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.

AI-is-increasingly-being-used-to-spread-false-information-through-deep-fakes-and-fake-media

 

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:

“Voters think this election will unfold in an extraordinarily challenging news and information environment. They anticipate AI will enable new misinformation, fake material, and voter-manipulation tactics. Worse, many aren’t sure they can sort through the garbage they know will pollute campaign-related content.”

AI 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.

AI Legislative and Regulatory Efforts

Policymakers are working on new legislation to regulate AI innovation in politics, ensuring that advancements are balanced with proper oversight.

  • 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

In the AI election 2024, artificial intelligence is widely used in political campaigns to generate targeted ads and communicate effectively with voters, reshaping election strategies.

  • 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.

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

AI Voter Influence and Engagement

Campaigns engage with voters through personalized content, enhancing voter targeting with AI by analyzing behavior and preferences, as seen in AI and elections.

  • 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).

AI-helps-campaigns-engage-with-voters-through-personalized-content.

AI 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).

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

 

Moreover, Dr. Belabbess emphasized the critical need for public awareness campaigns and AI literacy initiatives to help voters recognize and avoid falling prey to AI-generated misinformation.

Education is key. We must educate future generations from an early age about the potential dangers and opportunities of AI. Beyond that, we need public awareness campaigns and AI literacy programs to ensure citizens are informed about the technologies shaping their world.”

He proposed initiatives such as National Technology Days, which could focus on educating the public about AI’s role in elections, cybersecurity, and privacy concerns and creating transparent frameworks to certify AI-generated content.

AI Privacy vs. Election Integrity

Balancing voter privacy with the need for election security is a growing concern, especially as concerns about election interference continue to rise, highlighting the importance of safeguarding both privacy and the integrity of the electoral process.

  • 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).

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


AI, Politics, and the Spread of Fake News

Here are some 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 global democracies face 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). For more insights into the broader implications, check out AI election 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 is reshaping politics, prompting concerns about AI governance and AI policy to prevent misuse. As AI-driven tools become central to campaigns, they increasingly influence voter engagement and information, raising the need for stricter oversight.

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.

If you’re interested in understanding the technology behind these deepfakes, create political deepfakes with Deepswap offers a step-by-step guide illustrating just how easily AI tools can be used to generate highly realistic deepfakes. This highlights the urgency for regulations to counter potential misuse.


Explore More Insights on AI Politics

Discover how AI is changing the face of modern politics with these insightful reads:

  • Learn how AI-generated memes are influencing the 2024 election, shaping public perception through humor and creativity.
  • Uncover the strategies behind AI political strategy and how it’s reshaping political campaigns and decision-making processes.
  • See how AI Chatbots in politics are transforming the way candidates communicate with voters, raising both opportunities and ethical AI usage.
  • Look into the divergent views of Harris and Trump on AI, revealing the broader political divides over AI’s societal impact.
  • Understand the concerns raised by a San Francisco panel on AI’s threat to democracy, discussing the vulnerabilities AI introduces to election integrity.
  • Discover the buzz around Trump’s unexpected McDonald’s visit during his 2024 campaign.
  • Read how Meta’s AI chatbot stirred controversy with its politically charged comments, highlighting the challenge of maintaining neutrality in AI responses.
  • Explore the US intelligence report on Russia’s AI interference during the presidential election, showcasing the risks of AI-driven content in political meddling.
  • Datagotchi’s US version has launched, leveraging AI and lifestyle data to improve political forecasting.


FAQs: AI in Politics


AI plays a growing role in shaping elections by influencing voter behavior, creating targeted ads, and generating campaign content. However, there are growing concerns about AI-generated misinformation, deepfakes, and the manipulation of public perception during elections​.


The primary concerns about AI in politics include the potential spread of misinformation through AI-generated content, the creation of deepfakes, and the risk of AI compromising election integrity and national security​.


Governments are taking steps to regulate AI in politics, with 14 states in the U.S. enacting laws to control the use of AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns. Additionally, policymakers are considering new regulations to ensure transparency and ethical AI use​.


Yes, AI can enhance political campaigns by generating personalized content, automating voter engagement, and helping smaller campaigns compete with well-funded ones. However, this comes with ethical concerns regarding transparency and manipulation of voter sentiment.


Governments and organizations are developing countermeasures, such as content moderation tools and AI-based systems to detect fake news and deepfakes. Public education campaigns are also being launched to help people identify AI-generated misinformation​.


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.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo
Generic placeholder image

Ramesha Kamran

Editor

A detail-oriented content strategist, fusing creativity with data-driven insights. From content development to brand storytelling, I bring passion and expertise to every project—whether it's digital marketing, lifestyle, or business solutions.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *