Experts warn that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a central role in the 2024 US election, with both parties taking advantage of the technology in a variety of ways to redefine campaigns and influence voters.
While AI is proving to be a powerful tool for campaigns to more efficiently identify donors and voters, Axios tells us that its use in generating deepfake messages and flooding voters with disinformation could have serious consequences.
AI to Possibly Disrupt the Outcome of the US Election
According to Tom Newhouse, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Convergence Media, a Republican firm that uses AI, the 2024 election will be the "AI election - but it'll be massively more disruptive" than previous ones.
The lack of rules for using AI in politics means that operatives from both parties are turning to technology for tasks such as time-consuming research, office work, and advertising.
The Republican National Committee's AI-generated video published immediately after President Biden launched his re-election candidacy is one known example.
Mashable tells us that the Republican National Committee's "Beat Biden" ad imagines a scenario in which Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are re-elected in 2024.
The video also depicted a grim, chaotic America under a second term under Biden.
Easing Up the Work for Campaigners
Campaign-hired digital firms also employ machine learning to distribute text messages to voters more efficiently and find soundbites from long videos, freeing up staffers and contractors for other tasks.
Axios cites that AI is also being used to increase fundraising efficiency by targeting prospective donors and voters more precisely. Previously, a campaign might have used researchers hired to build databases filled with information from voter files.
With the latest technologies, campaigns can target individual voters, such as those living in a given zip code or supporting a specific sports club.
The Dangers of Using AI for Politics
The use of artificial intelligence in politics is not without risks. AI-generated disinformation can be used to bombard voters with fake audio, robocalls, or SMS messages about a politician.
AI technology can even dub over a speech and modify a candidate's words, muddying the line between truth and falsehood.
In a report, Time tells us that although data on the prevalence of AI-powered scam calls is limited, stories of such incidents have repeatedly surfaced on TikTok and other social platforms this year, raising concerns about AI's potential for harm.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly utilized in political campaigns, it is critical to have clear rules and regulations to ensure its usage is transparent, ethical, and accountable.
According to Goodwin Law, there is no substantial federal regulation governing the use of AI, nor is there any significant state legislation in force in the United States.
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