By Dana Guterman

In 2024, a record number of voters will head to the polls. Elections are scheduled to take place in at least 64 countries, collectively representing approximately 49% of the global population. And this year, there’s a noteworthy new development: emerging AI technologies, which have the potential to impact electoral processes and outcomes in a variety of ways.

“Many polls have come out recently showing just how high the anxiety is in the general public about the impact of artificial intelligence on our elections,” said Danielle Allen during a panel session co-hosted by the GETTING-Plurality Research Network a project of the Ash Center’s Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at HKS, and Connection Science at MIT Media Lab. Participants discussed how to leverage AI’s potential to bolster democratic engagement and strengthen election integrity while addressing the technology’s adverse effects.