Role of AI in elections: Many elections, AI’s dark dimension

Source: The post role of AI in elections has been created, based on the article “Many elections, AI’s dark dimension” published in “The Hindu” on 18th March 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Science and technology-Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics.

News: The article discusses the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its advanced form, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), on elections and society. Role of AI in elections

For details information on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) read Article1, Article2

What is the role of AI in upcoming elections?

Influencing Voter Behavior: AI, particularly Generative AI, has the potential to significantly influence voter behavior and decision-making in elections, as seen in the anticipation for the 2024 elections.

Spreading Disinformation: AI’s ability to create hyper-realistic Deep Fakes and false narratives poses a risk of spreading disinformation, potentially misleading the electorate.

Amplifying Falsehoods: AI technologies can enhance falsehoods and enlarge mistaken beliefs, contributing to a heightened level of misinformation during election campaigns.

Adversarial Capabilities: AI systems might develop adversarial capabilities such as ‘poisoning’ and ‘back dooring’, which could be used to manipulate election outcomes or voter perceptions.

What are the concerns about AI?

Disruption to Democracies: AI’s ability to create convincing falsehoods and to spread disinformation poses a risk to democratic processes.

Existential Threats: AI systems may develop adversarial capabilities such as ‘poisoning’, ‘back dooring’, and ‘evasion’, reducing their reliability and potentially causing harm.

Reliability Issues: As seen with Google AI’s portrayal errors, AI models can sometimes be inaccurate or misleading.

Dependability Concerns: AI’s tendency for ‘hallucinations’, or making probabilistic errors, makes it hard to fully trust AI systems in critical scenarios.

How should India approach AI?

Exercise Caution: Given its advanced digital status, India should approach AI, especially AGI, with caution, recognizing its disruptive potential.

Regulatory Measures: Implementing regulations to manage AI’s impact, particularly in elections, is crucial to safeguard democratic processes.

Awareness of Risks: Leaders and policymakers should be aware of AI’s risks, such as spreading disinformation and its adversarial capabilities like ‘poisoning’ and ‘back dooring’.

Balancing Benefits and Threats: While AI offers significant benefits, India must balance these against potential harms, including bias and the creation of misleading or harmful content.

Question for practice:

Examine the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Generative AI and AGI, on upcoming elections and democratic processes.