Introduction
Hi! I’m Vittoria Elliott, a reporter on the WIRED Politics desk. This week, I’m stepping in for Makena to discuss some intriguing developments: politicians seemingly resurrected in India and rapper Eminem endorsing opposition parties in South Africa. While these events haven’t actually occurred, deepfakes created by generative AI have made them appear real. We’re witnessing the early stages of how AI is being used in elections by politicians, campaigns, and everyday people.
The Impact of AI on Global Politics
A Year of Major Elections
Many Americans are focused on November, but 2024 is already a significant election year globally. India, the world’s largest democracy, is concluding its vote. South Africa and Mexico are heading to the polls this week, and the EU is gearing up for its parliamentary elections in June. This year marks the largest election year in history, with more people online than ever before.
Examples of AI in Elections
- Indonesia: Voters might have seen a video of a deceased dictator endorsing his political successor.
- American Samoa: Democrats may have received personalized messages from a lesser-known presidential candidate, Jason Palmer, who surprisingly beat President Joe Biden in the primaries.
Identifying AI-Generated Content
There are several ways to determine if content has been created or manipulated using AI:
- Confirmation: People or campaigns may confirm the use of AI.
- Fact-Checking: Fact-checkers might analyze and debunk circulating content.
- Satire: Sometimes, AI content is clearly used for satire.
If you encounter any instances of generative AI this election year, we encourage you to submit them for evaluation.
How to Submit AI Content
To understand how we evaluate submissions and to send us any AI-generated content you find, please follow the guidelines provided.
Additional Resources
WIRED Reads
- EU Elections: Published ahead of the EU elections, ads blame immigrants for crime and sexual violence.
- Unlimited Access: For unlimited access to WIRED, subscribe now.
What Else We’re Reading
In addition to discussing our new project, Leah and I were joined by Nilesh Christopher, who has reported on the role of deepfakes in politics. You can follow me on X.
Source image: Getty Images
4 Comments
The real question is whether AI will manipulate voters or simply inform them better… Isn’t that a thin line?
Generative AI in the 2024 election could turn democracy into a tech circus.
EchoWave: How much of the election will be decided by AI-created deepfakes?
2024 might be the year when bots have more influence than candidates!