Some experts argue that AI could take over elections. The federal government has begun exploring how AI might impact elections. From AI-generated political ads to the technology posing significant threats of disinformation, this initiative from Aspen Digital aims to help concert siloed efforts for a strategic approach to mitigate risk.
The AI Elections Initiative aims to bring experts together. According to a blog post from Aspen Digital, in the next few weeks, the organization plans to share additional information about the work this initiative will entail, including the convening of stakeholders and publishing action-oriented resources.
The work of the AI Elections Initiative will be supported by an advisory council of experts from different sectors.
As part of this initiative, several events are already planned for the first quarter of 2024.
In January, civil society partners will be convened in coordination with the Knight Foundation. In February, in coordination with the National Association of Secretaries of State, briefings with state election officials are planned. In March, a conference of global leaders is planned in partnership with the Institute of Global Politics at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. More events will follow.
Josh Lawson, who serves as the Aspen Institute’s director for AI and Democracy, shared his excitement for the new initiative in a LinkedIn post: “I’m thrilled to lead this important work.”
Aspen Digital has identified nine specific areas from which leaders must anticipate and mitigate threats: siloed expertise; public susceptibility; inadequate platform readiness; slow-moving policy; high-quality AI-generated media (more commonly known as deepfakes); scaled distribution at high speed; message targeting and hyperlocal misinformation; automated harassment; and cybersecurity of elections infrastructure.
The blog notes that due to unprecedented distrust in civic institutions, traditional media and the political system at large, a whole-of-society approach is needed for election preparedness. And with the rapid advance of AI, the country needs a strategic focus where AI, elections and trust are concerned.
And while the blog does acknowledge that technology — and AI specifically — can help create a future in which governments serve constituents more effectively, it also underlines that acting now to address risks will make that future possible.
