Danielle Lee Tomson, the research manager for election rumors at the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public, discusses the impact of AI on the 2024 campaign in a recent episode of the GeekWire Podcast. She explains that while there is concern about deepfakes fooling the electorate, AI is also being used to create ambience online through heroic AI-generated images of the candidates. This impact is less about veracity and more about the vibe it creates among voters. Tomson emphasizes that while using AI in illegal ways can result in consequences, creating a feeling or ambience online is harder to fact-check.
The Center for an Informed Public (CIP), where Tomson works, was founded by professors in various fields to inform the public about specialized knowledge. The center has a team dedicated to election rumor research, among others, that works on pointing out the nuances of rumors, which can be true, false, or somewhere in between. This team aims to dissect and analyze misinformation and disinformation in a holistic way, highlighting the pieces of truth that are being twisted or reframed to become untrue.
Tomson also discusses the state of fact-checking, trust, and safety on social media platforms. She notes that many platforms have undergone layoffs in their trust and safety teams and are restricting political content to prevent the spread of misinformation. This trend has led to social media platforms showing less political content to users, which may impact the return on investment for these companies in the long run.
The unexpected impact of AI on the campaign is also highlighted by Tomson, who explains that while deepfakes and social media have been a concern in previous elections, AI-generated content is now creating a sense of kinship and imaginative play online. She gives examples of instances where AI has been used illegally, such as in robocalls telling people to vote on the wrong day in the wrong place. However, when AI is used to create a feeling or ambience online, it becomes harder to fact-check emotions.
Tomson emphasizes that the work of monitoring conversations related to election processes and procedures will continue well past Election Day. She keeps countdowns in her office till Election Day and certification, as she believes that there will be more rumoring and sense-making across the political spectrum after the election. The team at CIP is gearing up for continued monitoring of online conversations to combat misinformation and disinformation in the post-election period.
Overall, the impact of AI on the 2024 campaign goes beyond deepfakes and social media, extending to creating a sense of ambience and kinship among voters online. The work of organizations like the Center for an Informed Public is crucial in dissecting rumors, misinformation, and disinformation to ensure that the public is well-informed and able to discern the truth in a complex digital landscape. Monitoring conversations related to election processes and procedures will continue to be a priority in combating misinformation and disinformation post-election.
