Roles AI play in protecting democracy- There’s also a positive side of Al that can strengthen democracy

Source: The post roles AI play in protecting democracy has been created, based on the article “There’s also a positive side of Al that can strengthen democracy” published in “Live mints” on 1st March 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-Science and technology- Artificial intelligent

News: The article discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) can both harm and help democracy, especially during elections. Roles AI Play in Protecting Democracy

How has AI impacted elections?

Negative Impact of AI on Elections

Deepfakes have been used to spread misinformation, affecting public opinion and outcomes. Examples include a fake video in Bangladesh showing a leader opposing Palestinian support, and a fake audio in the US of President Biden discouraging voting.

Positive Impact of AI on Elections

AI can improve election transparency and efficiency by detecting fraud and enhancing voting security. In Pakistan, AI-generated videos of Imran Khan led to high voter turnout and success for his party, despite his imprisonment.

What positive roles can AI play in protecting democracy?

Monitoring for Election Fraud: AI can scrutinize election-related data in real time, detecting any signs of fraudulent activities. It’s capable of identifying unusual patterns in voter registrations and ballot submissions, which are crucial for maintaining the integrity of elections.

Cost-Effective Campaigning for Less-Wealthy Candidates: Generative AI (GenAI) has the capability to create campaign materials at a significantly lower cost and with greater efficiency. This aspect of AI can level the playing field in elections by empowering candidates with fewer financial resources, allowing them to reach a wider audience without the need for a large campaign budget.

Enhancing Voter Education: AI can tailor educational content about candidates and local issues to individual voters, using their local dialects. This personalization can increase political awareness and promote more informed voting decisions, benefiting particularly marginalized communities.

Assisting Voters with Disabilities: AI technologies, like voice recognition systems, can aid voters with disabilities, such as those who are visually impaired, making the voting process more accessible and inclusive.

Streamlining Election Logistics: AI can optimize the logistics of elections, making processes like voter registration and verification more efficient. This is especially beneficial in large countries, where managing large-scale elections can be logistically challenging.

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Way forward

To safeguard democracy, it’s vital to balance AI’s potential for disruption with its ability to enhance elections. Implementing measures to counteract deepfakes and misinformation, while harnessing AI for voter education, fraud detection, and increased accessibility, can strengthen democratic processes as evidenced in Pakistan’s recent elections.

Question for practice:

Discuss how AI can both harm and help democracy, particularly in the context of elections, and provide examples of its negative and positive impacts.