Christos Kritikos 🚀’s Post

I understand these authors are trying to make a point here, but this is a dangerous perspective. The recent MIT Technology Review article on AI's impact on elections is alarmingly shortsighted. Here's why we're not off the hook: 1️⃣ Like any technology, AI isn't static - it's evolving at breakneck speed. Today's "improbable" is tomorrow's reality. We already expect the U.S. election to be contested; complacency is a luxury we can't afford. 2️⃣ Zooming out to a global perspective, state-level actors are playing 4D chess while we're still setting up the checkers board. Their operations are designed to be invisible. Absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence. 3️⃣ Focusing solely on content generation and microtargeting is like worrying about a paper cut when there's a tsunami coming. AI could amplify existing threats to democracy in ways we haven't even conceived. (Why are we talking about microtargeting again?) 4️⃣ AI doesn't exist in a vacuum. Combined with AR/VR, quantum computing, and other emerging tech, we're looking at a combination of technologies that will fundamentally change how we communicate. 5️⃣ The real danger isn't just about swaying a single election. It's the insidious, long-term erosion of trust in our democratic processes. By the time we see it, it might be too late. There's a bunch of folks out there who have decided to make a name for themselves by taking the "AI won't disrupt anything don't worry about it" view. I'm old enough to remember when we thought the same thing about social media. This is a shortsighted perspective. #AIThreat #ElectionSecurity #DemocracyAtRisk #TechPolicy #WakeUpCall

The article discusses the perceived threat of artificial intelligence (AI) to the integrity of elections around the world. It addresses early predictions and claims about AI's potential to influence voters and election outcomes, highlighting that evidence suggests these concerns may have been overstated. The authors argue that AI's impact on elections has been limited, citing research that challenges the effectiveness of AI in mass persuasion and voter behavior. They also emphasize the complex and multifaceted nature of factors that shape voting behavior, suggesting that AI's influence may be less significant than initially feared. The article acknowledges legitimate concerns about AI and democracy, such as perpetuating social inequalities and diminishing trust in democratic processes, but also underscores the importance of addressing other threats to democracy unrelated to technology. The authors caution against overreacting to ill-founded assumptions about AI's impact on democracy, urging a focus on addressing more enduring problems that imperil democracies worldwide.

Great piece in MIT Technology Review Keegan McBride and colleagues. A good reminder of the risks of listening to armchair #AI pundits instead of examining what years of scholarly research suggests about voting behavior and technological influences. While AI does pose some challenges to democratic processes, its effects on elections (and voting outcomes) have been largely overstated. An excellent wake-up call about the importance of considering the complex interplay of factors that influence elections and human behavior more broadly, beyond technological interventions.

The article argues that concerns about AI's impact on elections are exaggerated and distract from more pressing threats to democracy.Many experts predict that AI will disrupt elections through deepfakes and targeted ads, but evidence shows these fears are largely unfounded. I believe that misconceptions about AI are still widespread in society. Whether it’s exaggerating AI’s impact or underestimating its capabilities, these misunderstandings affect how the public perceives this technology. Therefore, it’s crucial to convey accurate information about AI to the public. We need to educate and guide people better, helping them understand the true potential and limitations of AI, so they can view its development and applications more rationally.😈?👼🏻? #genAIandHumanities 👉🏻👉🏻:https://lnkd.in/dwUcsi4S

📣 My report with International IDEA on '𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭' is out! This is a big one, offering a broad overview of AI & Election Administration, primarily for Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) but also for anyone working with or interested in global elections. It has two main areas of focus: 1. First, it offers a starting point to examine some of the 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, offering 20+ potential use cases as well as the potential practical & ethical risks (as well as mitigation strategies) associated with each of them. 2. Second, it covers some of the ways that other, 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗘𝗠𝗕 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 as well as potential strategies for EMBs to respond. It also covers trends in regulation, offers recommendations, and shares some introductory information on AI. Our goal with this report is for people to leave with a 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗜 & 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: where there can be good and where there might be harm, both in the short & long term. Over the next couple of weeks and months, we'll be sharing this work with election officials and interested parties all around the world. Let me know what you think! And please get in touch if you want to talk more. Check it out here:

🔍 The Role of AI in Elections: Understanding Misinformation, Disinformation, and Deep Fakes 🗳️🤖 In the digital age, the integrity of elections is increasingly influenced by the flow of information online. My latest YouTube video explores the nuances of misinformation, disinformation, and deepfakes, and how AI plays a role in their spread and mitigation. 🎥 Watch now: https://lnkd.in/gdjXhJ9J In this video, I cover: -- Definitions and differences between misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes -- The role of AI and social media platforms in spreading disinformation -- Strategies to enhance electoral integrity using AI -- Practical tips for voters to protect themselves against AI-generated disinformation -- Measures to mitigate the negative impacts of AI in elections -- The future of AI in democracy As we approach upcoming elections, it's crucial to understand these concepts and their implications. By staying informed and critically evaluating the information we consume, we can all contribute to safeguarding our democratic processes. Let's work together to ensure that AI is used ethically and effectively to enhance the integrity of our elections. #Elections #AI #Disinformation #DeepFakes #Misinformation #Democracy #ElectoralIntegrity #MediaLiteracy #ArtificialIntelligence #ElectionSecurity #VoterEducation

It's not just the deepfakes that threaten elections (globally). The seductively-compelling but not-quite-right information from chatbots can be harmful in itself, and also builds a culture of general distrust. Join co-hosts Alexa Raad, QRD® and Leslie Daigle as they talk with Alondra Nelson to learn about the results of thoughtful research studies in the area, and the bigger picture of the impact of AI on elections everywhere. https://lnkd.in/eVVH9E_a

The elections are now behind us. The choices for Tech and AI policy are ahead. Time to engage - tech and democracy are deeply intertwined and we, the people, have a voice. 'If Winston Churchill was right that democracy is nothing more than “the worst form of Government except for all those other forms,” it is worth focusing on the minimal yet fundamental task at which democracies seem to excel: avoiding catastrophic outcomes and striving for stability and resilience to unpredictable shocks. Because even if we can’t agree on exactly the kind of society we want to live in, we can typically come to a consensus on the worst outcomes we want to avoid, such as imposing harm on individuals, being cruel to disadvantaged populations, and creating second-class citizens.' Reich, Rob, et al. System Error : Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot, HarperCollins Publishers, 2021. Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School

There's an AI tool for everything. Your search engine, your email, even this LinkedIn post asks me if I want to "rewrite with AI." There's a lot of ominous discourse about the impact of AI and whether AI-tools are a help or a hinderance - even on the world's stage as crucial elections loom large. AI-tools even have a role in most digital infrastructure of businesses today. If you're interested in the good side of AI-tools for your back office, reach out to Incyte today.

AI is one of the hottest topics in tech, but what happens when it meets one of the hottest social topics? The 2024 election has all the makings of, well, a disastrous mess [aka, a "shit show"], and this article from Eyewitness News in Chicago ponders the role AI is going to play. Fascinating! https://buff.ly/3ztmAeK #AI #technology #AchieveBeyond