News/Politics
What a Trump presidency may imply for AI and tech more broadly
The big picture: Donald Trump's re-election as President of the United States is poised to have significant implications for the tech industry, with varying impacts on different sectors and companies. Elon Musk's ascendancy: Elon Musk emerges as a major beneficiary of Trump's victory, solidifying his position as a tech industry powerhouse. Musk played a crucial role in Trump's election, serving as one of his biggest donors and most visible supporters in the tech world. X (formerly Twitter), owned by Musk, became a powerful platform for promoting Trump and the MAGA movement during the campaign. The tech mogul's influence is expected...
read Nov 5, 2024How AI is reshaping the 2024 presidential election
The dawn of AI in elections: The 2024 U.S. election marks a significant milestone as the first where generative AI tools are widely accessible to the public, political actors, and foreign agents, potentially impacting the democratic process. Alexandra Reeve Givens, president and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), describes generative AI as a "magnifier to existing influence efforts" that can make disinformation cheaper, easier, and potentially more convincing. The widespread availability of AI tools has changed how voters access election information and has increased the volume and sophistication of misinformation. AI chatbots and voter misinformation: Concerns have...
read Nov 5, 2024Keri Lake believes she will win Arizona’s Senate race because AI told her so
AI-powered polling claims in Arizona Senate race: Republican candidate Kari Lake asserts her campaign's internal polling, which incorporates AI analysis of social media and internet data, shows her leading in the closely watched Arizona Senate race. Lake claims to be ahead of her Democratic opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego, despite many other polls indicating otherwise. The Republican candidate's polling methodology combines traditional polling with AI analysis of social media and internet content, which she believes gives her campaign a more accurate picture of the race. Lake, a former news anchor turned politician, previously ran for governor of Arizona in 2022, losing...
read Nov 4, 2024New York AG warns of potential AI-generated election interference
Election integrity concerns: New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a warning about the potential risks of relying on AI-powered chatbots for election-related information, urging voters to use only official sources. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) conducted tests on multiple AI chatbots, finding that they frequently provided inaccurate information in response to sample questions about voting. James emphasized the importance of accurate voting information, stating that all voters deserve to know where, when, and how to vote correctly. The warning comes as early voting is underway and Election Day approaches, highlighting the urgency of the issue. Key...
read Nov 4, 20242 new books issue fresh warnings about AI ahead of the US election
Technological threats to democracy: As the United States approaches its presidential election on November 5, concerns about technology's potential to disrupt the democratic process, particularly through AI-generated misinformation, are reaching new heights. Two recently published books, "Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure that AI Works for Us" by Gary Marcus and "The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley" by Marietje Schaake, offer critical perspectives on the increasing influence of technology companies on politics and society. Both authors warn about the outsized power of Silicon Valley and its potential to undermine democratic processes, albeit from different angles....
read Nov 4, 2024Perplexity’s AI election tracker: What is it and how does it work?
Election tech innovation: Perplexity.ai, an AI-powered search engine, has launched an Election Information Hub to provide live updates, answer voter queries, and offer AI-generated summaries on candidates and ballot measures for the upcoming U.S. elections. The hub aims to assist voters in understanding key issues, finding polling information, and tracking live election results for presidential, Senate, and House races at both state and national levels. Users can input an address, city, or postal code to receive personalized information about what's on the ballot for their area, including AI-generated summaries of candidates' platforms and backgrounds. The platform will function as an...
read Nov 4, 2024Perplexity’s new ‘Election Info Hub’ aims to answer all your election questions
Perplexity's AI-powered election hub: Perplexity, an AI search company, has launched an Election Information Hub, aiming to provide voters with crucial information as the US Presidential election approaches. The hub utilizes AI to generate answers to voting questions, offer candidate summaries, and will track live vote counts on Election Day using data from The Associated Press. Voter information, including polling requirements, locations, and times, is sourced from Democracy Works, the same organization powering similar features for Google. Perplexity claims to use "a curated set of the most trustworthy and informative sources" for election-related answers. Sourcing and partnerships: Perplexity has officially...
read Nov 2, 2024Regardless of who wins the US presidency, AI policy may be the same — here’s why
The AI policy landscape: Continuity amidst political rhetoric: Despite recent campaign rhetoric, there is significant continuity in AI policy between the Trump and Biden administrations, with both building on foundations laid during Obama's presidency. The Trump administration made AI a national technology priority, implementing many recommendations from Obama-era reports on AI and big data. Biden's executive order on AI, which Trump has vowed to overturn, actually echoes and expands upon two executive orders Trump himself signed during his presidency. Key initiatives in Biden and Harris's AI efforts, such as the National AI Research Resource, originated from legislation passed near the...
read Oct 31, 2024How the US presidential election will shape global AI policy
The AI crossroads in American politics: The 2025 U.S. presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris represents a pivotal moment for the future of artificial intelligence, with the candidates offering starkly different visions for America's approach to this transformative technology. Contrasting AI philosophies: Harris and Trump present opposing viewpoints on how to handle the rapid advancement of AI, reflecting broader ideological differences about the role of government in technological progress. Harris advocates for "responsible innovation," emphasizing ethical guidelines, international cooperation, and robust privacy protections. The Biden administration's executive order on AI, which Harris is likely to continue, requires rigorous...
read Oct 31, 2024How to stop AI’s concerning trend toward illiberalism
The growing threat of unregulated AI to democracy: Artificial intelligence is posing significant risks to democratic institutions and practices beyond just election integrity, with potential to undermine civil rights and individual opportunities through opaque and unaccountable systems. Ungoverned AI systems are trending towards illiberalism, eroding democratic norms, practices, and the rule of law without proper oversight or public accountability. Unlike other regulated industries, AI systems lack transparency and mechanisms for public scrutiny, making it difficult to assess and address their societal impacts. Concrete examples of AI-related harms include facial recognition technologies misidentifying people of color, biased loan algorithms, and AI...
read Oct 31, 2024OpenAI policy head on the US election and difference between democratic and autocratic AI
OpenAI's political strategist on AI's role in democracy: Chris Lehane, OpenAI's head of global policy, offered insights on the intersection of artificial intelligence, politics, and democracy in a wide-ranging interview. The 2024 US election and AI policy: Lehane emphasizes the critical role the next president will play in shaping AI policy and its impact on global democracy. The incoming administration will need to address AI's potential to either strengthen or undermine democratic institutions. Lehane highlights the importance of developing "democratic AI" as opposed to "autocratic AI" controlled by authoritarian regimes. He stresses the need for public-private partnerships to build AI...
read Oct 30, 2024ChatGPT predicts this presidential candidate will win in 2024
AI predicts narrow victory for Kamala Harris in 2024 election: A new analysis using artificial intelligence suggests Vice President Kamala Harris is on track to win the 2024 presidential election with a slim margin in the Electoral College. British betting company Bonus Code Bets used ChatGPT, an AI language model, to assess the potential outcome of the election based on polling data, demographics, and historical results. The AI model predicts Harris will secure 276 Electoral College votes, compared to 262 for former President Donald Trump. This projected 14-vote margin would be the third-closest Electoral College victory in American history. Key...
read Oct 22, 2024Why some believe Trump’s policies could unleash a dangerous AI into the world
The AI regulation landscape under potential Trump presidency: A potential Donald Trump victory in the 2024 presidential election could dramatically alter the course of artificial intelligence regulation in the United States, with far-reaching implications for the tech industry and society at large. Trump has pledged to repeal President Biden's executive order on AI safety and oversight if elected, viewing it as an impediment to innovation and a vehicle for imposing left-leaning ideologies on AI development. The Republican stance on AI regulation emphasizes minimal government intervention, prioritizing rapid technological advancement over stringent safety measures. Two key provisions of Biden's executive order...
read Oct 18, 2024Human models outraged to discover their faces being used in AI propoganda
AI-generated propaganda sparks controversy: The use of AI-generated videos featuring real human models in political propaganda has raised serious ethical concerns and sparked outrage among the affected individuals. The Synthesia dilemma: Synthesia, a billion-dollar text-to-video AI company, has come under scrutiny for its AI avatar technology being used to create propaganda clips linked to authoritarian regimes. Synthesia's clientele ranges from reputable organizations like Reuters and Ernst & Young to groups associated with authoritarian states such as China, Russia, and Venezuela. The company claims its technology allows users to create "studio-quality videos with AI avatars" with ease. Human models who posed...
read Oct 17, 2024New survey shows Americans are worried about AI election interference
AI's impact on elections and society: A growing concern: A new survey reveals widespread apprehension about artificial intelligence's potential to interfere with major events, particularly elections, while also highlighting the public's complex relationship with the technology. More than half (54%) of the 6,000 Americans surveyed across 50 states believe AI will interfere with significant events like presidential elections. This concern transcends political divides, with both traditionally Republican-leaning states like Idaho (78%) and Democrat-leaning states like Virginia (78%) expressing high levels of worry about digital manipulation in elections. Interestingly, respondents in Washington and North Carolina showed less concern, with only 32%...
read Oct 11, 2024Newsweek asked ChatGPT to predict the election — here’s what it said
The 2024 presidential race: A tight contest between Harris and Trump: The upcoming U.S. presidential election, just 25 days away, is shaping up to be a highly competitive race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, with only 18 Electoral College votes separating the two candidates in recent simulations. Newsweek asked ChatGPT, "Can you tell me who you believe will win the 2024 presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?" The AI system was prompted to provide a rationale for its response and to analyze the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each contender. In its reply, the AI stated, "It would be...
read Oct 11, 2024The argument for Donald Trump as the clear choice for AI policy
AI as a cornerstone of Trump's campaign strategy: Donald Trump's presidential campaign is emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions as a key component of his plan to address various national issues. Newsweek contributor John Evans outlines his reasons why Trump is the best choice for the future of AI policy. Trump's campaign highlights AI's potential to improve sectors such as education, healthcare, scientific research, manufacturing, and criminal justice reform. The campaign emphasizes Trump's previous efforts to reduce prison recidivism, including the signing of the First Step Act in 2018, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. Trump's AI leadership during his presidency:...
read Oct 10, 2024Why Kamala Harris supporters believe she is the right president for the AI era
AI regulation and leadership, and the need for national action: As artificial intelligence rapidly advances, regulating this powerful technology has become a critical challenge that requires decisive leadership at the national level. California Governor Gavin Newsom's recent decision to halt legislation mandating safety testing for certain AI models highlights the limitations of state-level regulation in addressing this complex issue. The growing impact of AI on various aspects of society necessitates a coordinated national effort to govern its development and deployment effectively. Kamala Harris' approach to AI governance: according to her supporters, Vice President Kamala Harris has demonstrated a thoughtful and...
read Oct 8, 2024AI chatbot debates for VA congressional candidate’s absent opponent
AI chatbot enters the political arena: An independent congressional candidate in Virginia has created an AI-powered chatbot to stand in for his opponent in an upcoming debate, raising questions about the role of artificial intelligence in politics and campaign discourse. Bentley Hensel, running for Virginia's 8th congressional district, developed "DonBot" to represent incumbent Democrat Don Beyer in a debate scheduled for October 17. The AI chatbot was trained on Beyer's official websites, press releases, and Federal Election Commission data, without the congressman's permission. Hensel's decision to create the chatbot stems from his frustration with Beyer's refusal to participate in additional...
read Oct 4, 2024Judge blocks California deepfake law to protect AI-powered satire
First Amendment Victory Against California Deepfake Law: A federal judge has blocked California's AB 2839, a law designed to regulate AI-generated content in elections, citing First Amendment concerns and potential infringement on free speech rights. Key legal challenge and ruling: Christopher Kohls, a parody video creator known as "Mr Reagan" on social media platforms, sued to block the law, claiming it unconstitutionally targeted his satirical content. US District Judge John Mendez granted a preliminary injunction, agreeing that the statute infringes on free speech rights and is unconstitutionally vague. The judge acknowledged the government's interest in protecting election integrity but found...
read Sep 27, 2024SFChronicle unveils AI tool to answer your Kamala Harris questions
Innovative AI tool launched for Kamala Harris coverage: The San Francisco Chronicle has introduced a groundbreaking AI-powered interactive tool, the Kamala Harris News Assistant, designed to provide readers with comprehensive information about the Democratic vice president and potential presidential candidate. Leveraging decades of reporting: The News Assistant combines generative AI technology with 29 years of the Chronicle's political reporting on Harris, offering users a unique opportunity to explore her life, career, and political journey. The tool draws from thousands of Chronicle articles dating back to 1995, creating a vast knowledge base on Harris's trajectory from local politics to the national...
read Sep 27, 2024California passes 9 landmark AI content regulation bills
California takes legislative action on AI: Governor Gavin Newsom has signed nine bills into law, addressing various risks associated with AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes, while 29 more AI-related bills await his decision by September 30. The new legislation covers a range of issues, including protecting performers' digital likenesses, combating the misuse of AI-generated content, and addressing deepfakes in election campaigns. These laws represent a significant step in regulating AI technology and its potential impacts on society, entertainment, and politics. Protecting performers and their digital rights: Two of the signed bills focus on safeguarding actors and performers from unauthorized use of...
read Sep 25, 2024Half of Americans want AI outlawed in political ads — it won’t happen soon
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology has created new challenges for political advertising and election integrity in the United States, highlighting the need for comprehensive legislative reform. Current landscape of AI misuse in politics: Artificial intelligence has been leveraged in various ways to manipulate public opinion and potentially influence electoral outcomes. The Republican National Committee released an "AI-generated look" ad depicting apocalyptic scenes if President Biden is re-elected, showcasing the potential for AI to create misleading visual content. Fake robocalls using AI-generated voices impersonating President Biden urged New Hampshire residents not to vote in the 2024 primary, demonstrating the...
read Sep 25, 2024AI Erodes Public Trust in Online Election Media, Adobe Survey Finds
The AI-driven erosion of media trust: The rise of deepfakes and AI-generated content has significantly impacted public trust in online media, particularly concerning election-related information, according to a recent Adobe survey. Nearly 75% of respondents have questioned the authenticity of photos and videos from reputable news sources due to perceived rampant misinformation. Over 40% reported being misled by election-related falsehoods in the past three months. 43% of those surveyed said they are less likely to trust online content related to the election. Social media platforms under scrutiny: The survey reveals a growing distrust in social media platforms and calls for...
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