The Technological Disruption of the 2024 Presidential Election: AI-Powered Chatbots and the Democratization of Political Campaigns
In the heart of the bustling New Hampshire streets, Dean Phillips, a relatively unknown presidential candidate, engages in conversations with voters, emphasizing his belief that President Biden should not be renominated by the Democratic Party. Concurrently, an AI-powered chatbot, aptly named Dean.Bot, mirrors Phillips’s stance, providing similar responses to voters, blurring the lines between human interaction and digital engagement.
This innovative approach to campaigning is the brainchild of a super PAC, We Deserve Better, backed by prominent Silicon Valley figures and activist hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman. The PAC aims to amplify Phillips’s message through the strategic use of AI-powered chatbots and targeted social media advertisements. Their mission is to mobilize voters and challenge the status quo, hoping to propel Phillips to victory in the upcoming election.
Matt Krisiloff and Jed Somers, the masterminds behind Dean.Bot, are political novices who saw an opportunity to disrupt the traditional political landscape. They believe that Biden’s declining popularity necessitates a change in leadership within the Democratic Party. Their goal is to harness the power of technology to make Phillips more visible and accessible to voters, increasing his chances of success in the upcoming race.
However, the use of AI in political campaigns raises ethical and practical concerns. Paul Barrett, deputy director of the New York University Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, cautions that AI-powered chatbots could potentially be used to manipulate voters, spread misinformation, or even impersonate candidates. The lack of regulations governing the use of AI in politics further complicates the situation, leaving room for potential abuse.
To address these concerns, We Deserve Better claims to have taken steps to ensure transparency and accountability. They have removed ChatGPT, the AI language model initially used to power Dean.Bot, following OpenAI’s policy against the use of its tools in political campaigns. Instead, they now rely on other open-source models for the chatbot’s functionality.
The funding for We Deserve Better comes from a network of wealthy tech donors, including Neal Khosla, Jed McCaleb, and Bill Ackman himself. These individuals share a common concern about Biden’s candidacy and believe that a younger, more technologically savvy candidate would better serve the country’s interests.
Despite the enthusiasm of Phillips’s supporters, his campaign has faced challenges. Polling data shows him trailing behind other candidates, and his efforts to rally support have yielded limited results. The PAC’s strategy is to focus on New Hampshire, where Biden is not on the primary ballot, in the hopes of gaining traction and building momentum for Phillips.
The use of AI-powered chatbots in the 2024 presidential election marks a significant turning point in the way campaigns are conducted. It challenges traditional methods of voter engagement and opens up new possibilities for candidates to connect with voters. However, it also underscores the need for careful consideration of the ethical implications and potential risks associated with this technology.
The integration of AI in political campaigns raises questions about the future of democracy. While it has the potential to democratize the political process by making candidates more accessible and engaging, it also poses risks to the integrity of elections. As we move forward, it is crucial to strike a balance between innovation and responsibility, ensuring that AI is used for the betterment of democracy, not its subversion.