Sunday Pick: Humanity’s first AI election with WIRED's Vittoria Elliott | The TED AI Show
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Deep Dive
What is the Wired AI Elections Project?
The Wired AI Elections Project tracks how generative AI is impacting elections globally, with a focus on deepfakes, AI-generated content, and AI candidates. It includes a geospatial map showing instances of AI use in elections, categorized by region and type of use.
How are deepfakes affecting political campaigns in the U.S. and globally?
Deepfakes are being used in both sanctioned and unsanctioned ways, such as the Biden robocall discouraging voters and Imran Khan's authorized deepfake declaring victory while in prison. They are often emotionally resonant, even if people know they are fake, and are harder to detect in audio form, especially in regions like South Asia.
What is the 'liar's dividend' and how does it relate to AI in elections?
The liar's dividend refers to the idea that when everything can be falsified, nothing is real. This concept is amplified by AI, as people may question the authenticity of even real evidence, leading to a blurring of shared reality and truth in political discourse.
How are AI candidates being used in global elections?
AI candidates, like A.I. Steve in the UK and Yas Gaspadar in Belarus, are being used to represent political dissidents who cannot run in person due to safety concerns. These AI avatars allow for virtual representation and engagement with constituents, bypassing physical limitations.
What challenges do platforms face in detecting and moderating AI-generated content during elections?
Platforms struggle with detecting AI-generated content due to lack of transparency in detection systems and inconsistent labeling practices. Watermarking and hashing technologies could help, but they require universal adoption and cooperation among platforms, which is currently lacking.
How is AI being used in elections outside the U.S.?
In countries like India and Pakistan, AI is being used for deepfake audio messages and personalized outreach via WhatsApp. In Indonesia, AI avatars are used to create viral campaign content on TikTok, reaching billions of views and influencing voter perception.
What is the potential impact of AI on voter turnout and perception?
AI can influence voter turnout and perception by creating personalized outreach that makes voters feel seen, even if it's automated. In some cases, AI-generated content can go viral, significantly impacting a candidate's popularity, especially among younger voters who may not have historical context for certain political figures.
What are the broader implications of AI in elections beyond 2024?
The broader implications include a potential erosion of trust in institutions and shared reality, as well as the need for increased investment in trust and safety measures on platforms. The lack of these measures could lead to more AI-generated disinformation and further polarization.
- First AI election
- AI's impact extends beyond memes
- Deepfakes and chatbots deployed
- US can learn from other countries
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