In response to this, the US House launched a bipartisan taskforce in February to research ways AI could be regulated. However, with the rapid advancement of AI technology and the current partisan gridlock in Congress, it is unclear if any regulations will be in place for this year's elections. Without clear safeguards, the impact of AI on elections may come down to what voters can discern as real and not real. This could potentially lead to confusion and doubt among voters, as well as the spread of disinformation. Despite the lack of government regulation, some companies managing AI tools have launched plans to limit its potential influence on elections.
Key takeaways:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in politics, with instances of AI-generated robocalls and deepfake calls attempting to influence voters in the US and other countries.
- There are concerns that AI can be used to spread disinformation and manipulate voters, with the technology able to create convincing fake audio, text, and imagery.
- Regulations in the US are not yet prepared for the rapid advancement of AI technology, with the Federal Communications Commission only recently banning AI audio robocalls and no rules yet in place for AI in political ads.
- While some companies managing AI tools have plans to limit its potential influence on elections, there are concerns that bad actors can still exploit the technology, and there is a need for clear regulations and safeguards.