Voting Smarter: Democracy in the Age of AI
From Deepfakes to Deep Insights
Democracies world over are struggling. People aren't voting, voters aren't educating themselves on issues, young people are losing interest in politics, and more. Political divides are growing deeper, making it harder for societies to find common ground. Economic inequality is on the rise, corruption is eroding trust in public institutions, and attacks on the free press are becoming more common. All of this creates a dangerous mix that threatens the very foundation of our democratic systems.
Over the past 2.5 years, I've gained firsthand experience in understanding how democracies function through my research and participation in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). DAOs are digital democracies experimenting with different democratic systems, from direct to liquid to representative, and even they're failing. Many were looking at DAOs for a solution, but not anymore.
So how do we make our democracies more resilient? Well, AI has an answer. Let's explore each of the issues through the lens of AI.
Public Education
AI could offer personalized educational content, helping citizens better understand political issues, candidates' positions, and legislative processes, fostering an informed electorate. By breaking down complex political issues into digestible formats and multiple languages, AI can make everyone aware and better informed.
Imagine voters getting briefed on candidates and their policies in real time and assessing candidates based on their values and objectives.
Voter education is paramount in electing a representative democracy. In fact, with AI by the side of every citizen, we can dream of direct democracy again.
Increase Political Participation
AI can automatically create compelling outreach messages and social media content that resonate with different demographics, encouraging them to register to vote and participate in elections. These messages can adapt in real-time based on feedback and engagement, maximizing their impact.
AI can create virtual influencers or avatars that engage with potential voters on social media platforms. These AI-driven personalities can answer questions 24/7, provide immediate assistance in multiple languages and accessible formats (e.g., text-to-speech, visual guides). This ensures that all voters, including those with disabilities or language barriers, receive the information they need.
AI can send automated reminders to registered voters about upcoming elections, registration deadlines, and polling locations. These reminders can be personalized based on expressed interests.
AI can analyze voter data to identify groups with lower participation rates and tailor outreach efforts to their specific needs and preferences. This can include personalized messages that address concerns or provide information relevant to those voters.
Only AI can fight AI
Though Generative AI has the potential to create vast amounts of information quickly like deepfakes, AI videos, news articles, etc., AI can also be a powerful tool in combating this. Generative AI can be used to generate fact-checking reports and corrections. AI can automatically produce summaries that debunk false claims and explain why they are incorrect, making it easier for people to access accurate information.
Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI, proposes inoculating the public against deepfakes by creating lots of fake videos just before elections so people learn to be suspicious. Given the ease with which deepfakes can now be created, Hinton's approach suggests a radical form of preemptive defense, aiming to make the electorate more resistant to manipulation by showing them the tools of deception.
We're already seeing some form of this on X, with all the wild deepfake videos of public figures circulating on X like this one of Trump and Elon Musk dancing to Stayin' Alive. Also, X's community notes feature is a great example of informing people on what's true.
A new book by Pedro Domingos, an AI scientist, titled 2040 is a great read into the future of politics driven by AI. It’s a satire of the election year 2024, with AI, tech and politics and has an AI running for president. He also talks about AI and how it strengthens democracy on this machine learning podcast.
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