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Scientists are increasingly worried AI will sway elections (www.404media.co)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/politics@lemmy.world
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AI models can meaningfully sway voters on candidates and issues, including by using misinformation, and they are also evading detection in public surveys according to three new studies.

Scientists are raising alarms about the potential influence of artificial intelligence on elections, according to a spate of new studies that warn AI can rig polls and manipulate public opinion. 

In a study published in Nature on Thursday, scientists report that AI chatbots can meaningfully sway people toward a particular candidate—providing better results than video or television ads. Moreover, chatbots optimized for political persuasion “may increasingly deploy misleading or false information,” according to a separate study published on Thursday in Science. 

“The general public has lots of concern around AI and election interference, but among political scientists there’s a sense that it’s really hard to change peoples’ opinions, ” said David Rand, a professor of information science, marketing, and psychology at Cornell University and an author of both studies. “We wanted to see how much of a risk it really is.”

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[–] 7 points 11 months ago (1 child)

From the horses mouth

AI is already influencing elections — and will continue to — in several important ways. Here’s a clear, non-technical breakdown:

1. Voter Persuasion & Targeted Messaging

AI makes it easier to analyze huge amounts of data about voters and generate personalized political messages. Campaigns can use AI to:

  • Predict which voters are persuadable
  • Tailor messages to specific groups
  • Automate outreach (emails, texts, ads)

This can increase efficiency but also raises concerns about manipulation and privacy.

2. Deepfakes & Misinformation

AI tools can generate:

  • Fake videos of candidates
  • Synthetic audio imitating their voices
  • Hyper-realistic fake news articles or social posts

These can spread rapidly and confuse voters, especially close to election dates.

3. Content Moderation & Detection Tools

AI is also part of the solution:

  • Platforms use AI to detect bots, deepfakes, and coordinated misinformation campaigns.
  • Fact-checking organizations use AI to analyze claims faster.

4. Automated Bots & Influence Campaigns

AI-powered bots can simulate real users and amplify political narratives at enormous scales. This can distort what appears to be “public opinion.”

5. Voter Information & Assistance

Positive uses include:

  • Chatbots that provide voting information
  • Translation tools increasing accessibility
  • Analysis for journalists and researchers

Bottom Line

Yes — AI will influence elections, both positively and negatively. It can improve access to information and campaign efficiency, but also increases risks like deepfakes and targeted manipulation. Most experts argue the impact will grow, making transparency, regulation, and digital literacy increasingly important.

If you want, I can also explain:

  • How deepfakes are detected
  • What governments and platforms are doing to prevent election interference
  • Ethical guidelines for using AI in political campaigns
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