Hello folks, get ready for a wild ride in the 2024 elections! Here’s the scoop: Candidates are using super smart computer stuff, aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), to jazz up their campaigns. They’re making fancy calls and ads that are catching everyone’s attention. But here’s the twist – This isn’t just about cool tech; It’s got people talking.
Voters, candidates, and even the big tech companies are asking big questions about how this AI stuff might shake up elections not only in the U.S. but everywhere. Imagine mixing politics with high-tech gadgets – It’s not just in movies anymore. Let’s have a brief look at the use of AI in 2024 elections and how it will transform the future of elections forever. So buckle up, as it is about to get exciting.
AI in Political Campaigns: Connecting with Voters
Imagine having a virtual campaign volunteer named Ashley, powered by AI, making calls to voters on behalf of a Democratic House candidate in Pennsylvania, Shamaine Daniels. Daniels sees this as a chance to gather detailed information and kickstart meaningful conversations.
The company behind these AI-generated calls, Civox, uses a mix of more than 20 different AI models to bring Ashley to life, but they’re keeping mum about what kind of training data they’re using. The use of AI in 2024 elections is going to bring about monumental changes.
A Brief Overview of Ashley – Use of AI in 2024 Elections
Meet Ashley, the trailblazing AI-powered campaign volunteer who defies the stereotype of the typical robocall. Unlike traditional automated voices, none of Ashley’s responses are pre-recorded or canned, showcasing her remarkable ability to engage in conversational calls. As reported by Reuters, Civox has a clear mission to collaborate primarily with Democratic campaigns and candidates.
Ashley possesses the extraordinary capability of conducting an infinite number of personalised conversations simultaneously. Over the weekend, this cutting-edge AI tool was deployed on a large scale, setting the stage for a new era in political campaigning where technology takes centre stage in engaging voters. The uniqueness of Ashley lies not only in her conversational prowess but also in her transparency.
As revealed by one of the recipients of Ashley’s calls, the AI distinctly identified itself and refrained from attempting to deceive. With ambitious plans for rapid expansion, Civox’s CEO envisions scaling up to tens of thousands of calls per day by the year’s end. As Mouzykantskii boldly declares, “This is coming for the 2024 elections, and it’s coming in a very big way. The future is now”.
Also Read: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humans
Tech-Infused Campaigns: AI Chatbots
In the world of political campaigning, even chatbots are going high-tech. During Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s presidential campaign, a super PAC supporting him deployed an AI chatbot named AI Francis Suarez.
This chatbot wasn’t just any digital assistant – It offered to answer questions about Suarez’s agenda. They will be using it effectively to gain the voter’s attention in the 2024 elections. While it’s an innovative way to connect with voters, questions linger about how voters perceive these interactions.
Benefits of Using AI in the 2024 Elections Campaign
Instant Responses with Generative AI
Politicians are harnessing generative AI to respond instantly to campaign developments. The recent example of the Republican National Committee’s use of AI to create a critical video of Joe Biden showcases the capability to generate content rapidly without extensive production processes. Response times could further decrease, allowing AI to swiftly craft speeches, press releases, images, jokes, or videos to influence the narrative.
Quick Link: Some of the Weirdest Generative AI Use Cases Just Got Weirder: Here’s Our Top 5 Picks
Precise Message Targeting for Campaigns
AI facilitates precise audience targeting, a critical element in political campaigns. With the ability to analyse vast amounts of data from commercial brokers, campaigns can target swing voters more effectively. The high rates of political polarisation make this micro-targeting crucial, enabling campaigners to tailor messages to specific voting blocs based on real-time analysis of individuals’ behaviours, preferences, and political inclinations.
Navigating Legal and Ethical Waters
Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman voiced worries before the US Congress, highlighting the potential for generative AI to compromise election integrity. The legal and ethical dimensions of such technology are under scrutiny globally, and the founder of Civox acknowledges the potential downsides. He emphasises that ethical considerations will not take a backseat to profits.
While the US Federal Election Commission begins the exploration of potential regulations regarding AI use in the 2024 elections campaign, there needs to be more clarity about the legality of the actions undertaken by candidates like Shamaine Daniels. Despite the lack of clarity, Daniels plans to leverage her experience with AI to pioneer the development of policies and regulations.
The Perilous Intersection of AI and Democracy
The long-anticipated transformation of our democracy by AI is not some distant future; It’s unfolding before our eyes. AI is no longer just a tool but a potential threat, distorting reality by fabricating voices, generating fundraising emails, and creating “Deep Fake” images of events that never took place. Lawmakers are attempting to update laws to address these issues, but time is of the essence, with the AI election already underway.
Experts in technology and elections warn that without clear boundaries, citizens could be manipulated, disenfranchised, or lose faith in the democratic process. The prospect of AI breaking our democracy looms large in the upcoming 2024 elections. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke emphasises the urgency, stating, “When it becomes weaponized, we’re in a world of trouble”.
An August survey by YouGov revealed that 85 per cent of U.S. citizens expressed concern about the spread of misleading AI video and audio, with 78 per cent worried about AI contributing to the dissemination of political propaganda. The need to draw clear lines and establish safeguards against AI manipulation is more pressing than ever for the integrity of our democratic process.
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