AI in US Politics

What are deepfakes?

AI-generated videos that falsely depict people saying or doing things they never did.

How are deepfakes spread?

Through social media, online forums, and digital ads.

How many deepfakes were detected in 2019?

15,000 (an 84% increase from 2018).

What percentage of Americans believe deepfakes will confuse voters?

63%.

What percentage of deepfake targets are politicians?

39.2%.

How many deepfake videos of Ron DeSantis were found in 2024?

48 videos with 5.8 million views across 12 platforms.

What are the three main solutions to AI threats in elections?

Election-based legislation, mandatory AI detection for campaign ads, and voter education on AI and deepfakes.

How can legislation help?

Regulates AI use in political ads to prevent misinformation.

Why might legislation be ineffective?

Many voters ignore disclosure labels.

What is AI detection?

A system that scans political ads for deepfakes or misleading content before they reach the public.

What is an example of successful AI detection?

MIT’s AI system, which detected disinformation with 96% accuracy and was used in the 2017 French elections.

Why is this the most practical solution?

It prevents misinformation before it spreads and is easier to enforce than voter education.

What is the goal of voter education?

To help citizens recognize deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation.

What is the biggest challenge?

Public resistance due to political bias concerns.

How can education be effective?

It must be neutral and transparent to gain public trust.

What were the three sources analyzed?

Inc.com article on transparency, MIT study on AI detection, NY Times article on misinformation.

Which source is the most reliable?

MIT study on AI detection (96% accuracy in spotting misinformation).

What is the best solution?

Mandatory AI detection for campaign ads.

Why is mandatory AI detection considered the best solution?

It stops misinformation before it spreads and is more enforceable than legislation or education.