The 2024 election was expected to be the start of a new era where technology would change how politicians reach out to voters. However, as the election gets closer, we're not seeing much of that. Even though there are lots of new tech tools, like chatbots and digital versions of candidates, politicians aren't really using them. Let's take a look at why the promise of an "A.I. election" hasn't become a reality.
The Promise of A.I. in Politics
A.I. was expected to revolutionize political
campaigns. Companies like Civox, BHuman, and Personaliz.ai offered advanced
technology that could personalize voter outreach on a large scale. Picture a
digital version of a candidate greeting voters by name, addressing their
specific concerns, or an A.I. volunteer making thousands of calls in minutes.
The goal was to have tailored, efficient, and human-like interactions at a much
lower cost than traditional methods.
These tools were meant to make campaigns more
affordable and accessible, especially for smaller candidates who don't have the
funds to compete with well-financed opponents. For tech-savvy candidates like
Matthew Diemer, a Democrat running for Congress in Ohio’s Seventh District, the
idea of using A.I. was too good to pass up.
The Reality Check
The use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in political
campaigns has faced some challenges. For example, during Diemer's campaign,
they tested A.I.-powered robocalls and found that voters didn't respond well to
the technology. Most of the 1,000 calls made were cut short by voters who hung
up as soon as they realized they were speaking to an A.I. program.
This reluctance isn't unique to one campaign.
Interviews with 23 tech companies and seven campaigns revealed that many
candidates are hesitant to use A.I. tools because they're worried that voters
will be suspicious or outright reject the technology. Some campaigns have even
purchased A.I. products on the condition that it's kept secret from the public.
Trust Issues and the Fear of Backlash
The main issue is about trust, or rather, the lack of
it. Political campaigns know that voters are already wary of politicians, and
adding A.I. into the mix could make that distrust even worse. The thought of a
computer-generated version of a candidate talking on their behalf, or an
algorithm deciding how to reach out to voters, doesn't sit well with the
public.
We saw this clearly when former President Donald Trump
shared computer-generated pictures of Taylor Swift endorsing him. People
reacted strongly and quickly, showing that they don't like it when they think
they're being manipulated, especially with A.I. in the picture.
A Cooling Enthusiasm for A.I.
Lately, there has been less excitement about AI (artificial intelligence) across different industries. People used to think that AI was the future of technology, but now they are being more cautious. Investors on Wall Street are not as optimistic about AI companies, and there are talks about making rules that could slow down the growth of the industry.
Six months ago, people thought that AI would have a
big impact on the 2024 election. But as time has passed, it's clear that both
the technology and the people are not ready for such a big change. Even though
Personaliz.ai did well in the national elections in India, the U.S. market is
not as interested.
The Future of A.I. in Campaigns
So, what does this mean for the future of A.I. in
political campaigns? While the technology has not lived up to its 2024 hype,
it’s unlikely to disappear altogether. Instead, A.I. might find its place in
less visible roles—organizing email lists, managing voter databases, and
automating mundane tasks behind the scenes.
Candidates like Diemer, who are passionate about the
potential of A.I., may continue to experiment, hoping that voters will
eventually warm to the idea. But for now, the 2024 election cycle serves as a
reminder that while technology can offer innovative solutions, it must be
adopted at a pace that aligns with public sentiment.