In the Michigan House (US state), there is a bipartisan bill aimed at tackling the growing worry surrounding AI-generated content in political campaigns. This proposed legislation, brought forward by State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, necessitates disclaimers for political ‘deepfakes’ and campaign advertisements produced through AI. These advanced technologies have the capacity to create media that closely mimic real individuals, giving rise to ethical and democratic apprehensions. Tsernoglou’s goal is to safeguard elections against deceptive information. Additionally, experts such as Jovana Davidovic underscore the necessity for a comprehensive strategy, which includes education and self-regulation within the industry. Josh Goldstein underlines the potential for AI language models to generate persuasive propaganda that is challenging to trace, underscoring the difficulties in countering AI-driven misinformation in the realm of politics.

Why does this matter?

The use of AI-generated content in political campaigns has the potential to disrupt the democratic process and misinform voters. Political ‘deepfakes’ and AI-generated campaign ads can manipulate public opinion, making it crucial to regulate and require disclaimers to protect the integrity of elections. Addressing this issue is vital to ensure transparency, prevent the spread of misinformation, and safeguard the democratic principles upon which the political system is built.