The Year of the A.I. Election That Wasn’t

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in political campaigns for the 2024 U.S. elections. It highlights how more than 30 tech companies have pitched AI tools to political campaigns, but campaigns have been wary of adopting them due to concerns about voter distrust and the potential for deception.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Advertisement: The Year of the A.I. Election That Wasn't

1. What were some of the AI-based tools that tech companies pitched to political campaigns?

• AI-backed voice technology to make personalized phone calls to voters
• Chatbots and AI image generators to create virtual interactions with candidates
• AI-based technology to personalize videos of candidates for specific voters
• AI-powered chatbots to answer voters' questions on behalf of campaigns

2. Why were campaigns largely hesitant to adopt these AI technologies?

• Internal campaign polls found that voters were nervous about AI and distrusted the technology, especially when it came to generating candidate photos or videos.
• Campaigns were concerned about being accused of using "deepfakes" or AI in a way that could deceive voters.
• There was a general skepticism towards AI, as enthusiasm for the technology had cooled and there were concerns about its financial and regulatory implications.

3. How did some campaigns that did experiment with AI technology fare?

• The Ohio Democratic candidate Matthew Diemer tried using an AI-backed voice technology for robocalls, but found that voters hung up quickly when they realized they were talking to an AI.
• An AI-generated robocall mimicking President Biden's voice in the New Hampshire primary was denounced by political watchdogs and investigated by local law enforcement.
• Former President Trump's posting of AI-generated images of Taylor Swift endorsing him on Truth Social was met with anger and condemnation from her fans.

4. What were some of the behind-the-scenes ways campaigns used AI technologies?

• Some campaigns were more willing to use AI technologies for tasks like organizing email lists and voter databases, rather than for public-facing interactions.
• A few campaigns agreed to use AI technologies only if they could ensure the public would never find out.

[02] Campaigns' Hesitation and the Broader AI Landscape

1. What factors contributed to campaigns' hesitation in adopting AI technologies?

• Campaigns had "trust issues" and were concerned about being accused of using deceptive tactics like "deepfakes".
• Voter distrust of AI was a major concern, with internal campaign polls showing that voters were nervous about the technology.
• The broader landscape of AI was shifting, with tech giants and startups beginning to hedge their promises about the technology, and lawmakers proposing measures that could slow the AI industry's growth.

2. How did the enthusiasm for AI in political campaigns change over time?

• Just six months earlier, dozens of tech companies had shifted their focus towards offering AI-powered tools and technologies to political campaigns, drawn by the promise of campaign funds.
• However, by the time of the article's reporting, the enthusiasm had cooled, and campaigns were largely not biting on the AI offerings.

3. What were some examples of successful AI use in political campaigns outside the U.S.?

• The Indian AI company Personaliz.ai reported working with over 30 politicians in India's national elections, creating AI-powered videos and personalized interactions.
• However, the company said it had not seen the same level of interest from the U.S. and Europe, where people were more skeptical of the technology.