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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Politics

AI in politics

Introduction

Artificial intelligence will profoundly impact the political landscape, from how campaigns are run to how policy is formed and implemented. We need to ensure that these technologies are used ethically and transparently,” remarks  Andrew Yang, a political commentator and founder of the political party Forward Party and action committee in 2021. Although concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in politics and its impact on democratic processes have been present for decades, they have become much more dominant in recent years due to the rapid advancement of technologies such as general-purpose AI and generative AI. In November 2022, the AI research company OpenAI publicly released its own chatbot and virtual assistant named “ChatGPT”, a generative AI system extensively trained under language models that make inferences based on data. Since its release, generative AI has evolved to generate not only text but also deepfake images, sounds, and videos. However, it is also believed that with the implementation of proper safeguards and transparent regulations, AI can be an incredibly valuable tool to enhance democratic processes and political engagement.

Artificial intelligence: A friend or A foe?

It is widely acknowledged that artificial intelligence plays a significant role in our daily lives, and its influence on governmental operations is no exception. AI has been increasingly deployed by the government, particularly in traffic analysis, national defense and healthcare systems, to enhance resource efficiency and reduce costs. In the realm of politics, AI facilitates data-driven decision-making because of its ability to analyze vast volumes of data from multiple sources, a task that would have been unattainable for an average human. This capability provides politicians with important insights into emerging issues or public sentiments, enabling them to better comprehend and meet their constituents' needs. Furthermore, AI can enhance policy-making by identifying patterns, correlations, and probable outcomes–  thereby allowing policymakers to develop more effective and targeted policies. 

While AI is beneficial in countless ways, it also presents its fair share of potential risks. One of the major concerns associated with artificial intelligence is its use in the creation and dissemination of disinformation through its deepfake videos and images. For instance, on January 21, 2024, a deepfake video surfaced in India featuring Karunanidhi, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu who passed away in 2018, praising MK Stalin and DMK, a state political party.  Similarly, during Brazil’s 2022 election,  a deepfake video of  a prominent journalist was circulated online, influencing public perception and voter behavior. These instances explain how AI can exacerbate misinformation campaigns. AI’s ability to generate misleading content has the potential to be deadly as it contributes to the erosion of trust in democratic processes and institutions, leading to decreased confidence in election outcomes and the integrity of democratic processes. AI, if not adequately protected and entrusted to the wrong individuals, can not only disseminate misinformation on a large scale, especially among less informed citizens, but can also cause revolts and much more unimaginable catastrophes.  Fortunately, there are numerous measures that can be implemented to mitigate misuse of artificial intelligence in politics. For instance, investing in digital and media literacy programs  can  empower voters to discern facts from fiction and resist manipulation. Additionally, developing and implementing technology that attaches machine-readable information to AI-generated content can help in proving its authenticity. Watermarks can be used to visually label AI-generated content or mark the metadata;for instance, the image generator DALL-E incorporates a colorful stripe in its images. Nevertheless, a limitation to this method could be that some watermarks are often difficult to detect and can be easily  removed by the photo editing software such as Adobe photoshop. Discussion of questions Question 1:  Given that biases in algorithms are frequently the result of historical facts and societal injustices, how much should AI developers be held responsible for the biases in their algorithms?

In addressing the question of the extent to which AI developers should be held accountable for biases inherent in their algorithms, it is imperative to initially delineate the concept of bias within AI contexts.

 AI bias, also known as algorithm bias, encapsulates the phenomenon whereby AI systems  produce  results that reflect and perpetuate human biases inherent within a society. These biases, encompassing historical injustices and present-day inequalities, can manifest at various stages of the AI development process including the initial training data, the algorithmic design or the predictions generated by the algorithm . It is of paramount importance to understand that AI language models are not neutral or objective; they reflect the biases and ideologies of the data they  are trained on and the perspectives of their creators. 

The prevalence of AI biases spans across many domains, from healthcare, criminal justice and  politics.  Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) revealed that Open AI’s GPT models exhibit a predisposition towards left-wing political ideologies which  traditionally  advocate social equality, collective responsibility and reform. This inclination is attributed to the data they have been trained on that already contains political bias. The study states that these biases could have occurred due to the sources the AI models use for their training such as books, social media, articles, internet, etc which could reinforce the models existing biases causing it to favor a specific side. Another valid reason for this could also be the methodologies employed by tech companies in updating their datasets and refining training methods, thereby implicating AI developers equally  for the biases in their algorithms.  However, in response to the challenges posed by AI biases, several measures have been taken into account in order to mitigate their impact and prevent AI biases. These include enhancing public awareness regarding the capabilities and potential risks associated with AI,  alongside the implementation and enforcement of ethical and legal frameworks aimed at regulating the use of AI in sensitive areas such as politics. By holding people misusing it accountable, a more equitable and unbiased deployment of AI technologies can be achieved. Question 2:

How can governments strike a compromise between the necessity of gathering data to enhance AI systems and the need to safeguard citizens' privacy and stop illegal use of personal data?

The vast amounts of data generated through AI has aided governments, healthcare, business and many other organizations has offered unprecedented insights and aided in enhancing decision-making processes.However, something that goes unnoticed is how the potential misuse of  sensitive information  that  individuals may not prefer sharing;  This information, which individuals might not wish to disclose, can be exploited without their consent, emphasizing upon the need of data privacy. Data privacy is indispensable in ensuring that AI systems do not use individuals' personal data to manipulate or discriminate against them, resulting in biased outcomes. This safeguards an individual's control over their personal information, thereby promoting personal dignity and upholding respect.To mitigate the unauthorized use of personal data, it is crucial  that AI systems are designed to not rely on personal information of an individual for gathering data. In instances where the use of personal data is inevitable, the AI systems must be made accountable and transparent to make sure they are not making unfair or biased decisions and above all not violating an individual’s rights. Governments can develop comprehensive regulatory frameworks that specifically address the unique challenges posed by AI technologies, as well as collaborate with industry leaders and high-level policymakers to improve and create better-designed AI systems to combat the misuse of AI for illegal personal data collection. For example, in April 2021, the European Union (EU) enacted the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) and the Artificial Intelligence Liability Directive (AILD) to govern AI development and defend individual rights.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AI serves many benefits not only for healthcare systems and national defense but also for the governments in policy making, traffic analysis as well as data driven decision making. As every coin has two sides, AI also has its notable flaws and drawbacks when it comes to its misuse in making deep fake images and videos spreading false rumors and allegations amongst the public which cannot be emphasized enough.Even though, there are several steps that have can be taken to prevent and minimize the misuse of AI, it cannot be eradicated completely from this world, especially on noting how fast AI has been evolving day by day and surpassing human expectations making it only natural for individuals to form their own personal opinions on how AI should be used in the modern day world. References Zia Muhammad, O.C. (2024a) Ai’s pro-democrat bias could swing the 2024 elections, The Hill. Available at: https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4482389-ais-pro-democrat-bias-could-swing-the-2024-elections/ (Accessed: 16 September 2024). 

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