Polls
Do You Trust AI-Generated Election Information?
Do You Trust AI-Generated Election Information?
Here’s The Scoop
A recent poll has confirmed what many Americans already suspected: artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be trusted to provide accurate election information. The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts, reveals that nearly two-thirds of Americans are skeptical of AI-generated election data.
A striking 64% of respondents expressed their lack of confidence in the reliability of election information produced by AI chatbots. This skepticism is well-founded, as 43% believe that AI will actually make it more difficult to find factual information about the presidential election. Only a meager 16% think AI will make it easier.
AI chatbots, which rely on vast amounts of data to generate responses, are fundamentally flawed. These programs can only regurgitate information scraped from various sources and lack the ability to think or reason like humans. This limitation makes them prone to factual errors and vulnerable to manipulation by malicious actors aiming to spread disinformation.
Concerns about AI’s impact on access to verifiable data are widespread, with 52% of poll respondents worried about how AI will compromise this access. In stark contrast, a mere 9% are excited about AI’s expanding role in information dissemination.
The dangers of AI are not limited to text-based information. These programs are becoming increasingly adept at generating realistic images of real-world individuals, including prominent figures like former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Such manufactured images have already become common on social media, further muddying the waters of truth and deception.
The AP-NORC poll, conducted between July 29 and August 8, has a self-reported margin of error of +/- 4%. This data underscores the urgent need for caution and scrutiny as AI technology continues to evolve and infiltrate critical areas of public life, including our democratic processes.
As Americans, we must remain vigilant and critical of the information we consume, especially as AI becomes more prevalent. The integrity of our elections and the veracity of the information we rely on are at stake.
What do you think? Let us know by participating in our poll, or join the discussion in the comment section below!
