Are AI and Democracy on the Same Ticket?
Are AI and Democracy on the Same Ticket?
Aria Finger weighs in on elections and AI.
It’s the biggest election year in human history. Half of the world's population — 3.7 billion people — has the opportunity to head to the polls across 72 countries. With our own election right around the corner, it's the perfect time to dig into the intersection of AI, nonprofits, and democracy. And I knew I couldn't do it alone.
I elected to bring in a friend who's been navigating this intersection for years: Aria Finger. She's a prime candidate for this discussion. Aria led DoSomething.org for over a decade, mobilizing millions of young people to take action and registering over 350,000 young voters. Currently, she serves as Chief of Staff for Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and Inflection AI. She also co-hosts Possible, a podcast that explores the bright side of AI. She's seen firsthand how tech can amplify voices, streamline civic processes, and, yes, sometimes complicate our democratic landscape.
Kevin Barenblat: Hi Aria! Thanks for helping us navigate this strange new world. Your career spans leadership roles in tech-driven social impact. Given your expertise and strong focus on democracy, how do you view the intersection of AI and our democratic processes?
Aria Finger: In general, I am very excited about the prospect of AI being a force for good in so many sectors — from healthcare to education to…yes…even democracy. The way I see it, part of people's faith in democracy stems from believing their elected leaders can actually improve their lives. AI has enormous potential to enhance government effectiveness, from custom chatbots for tax assistance to streamlined Medicare procedures to improved communications with local public schools. However, we can't ignore the short-term risks. AI can increase misinformation and intensify the erosion of trust in institutions like democracy that started long before LLMs came on the scene.
KB: You’re right — AI presents some potential risks to our democratic processes. How can we best counter these risks as we approach the 2024 election and beyond?
AF: There are many, many things that need to be done, and I certainly don't have all the answers. Here's the thing: many of these threats to democracy existed before AI. But AI does supercharge people's ability to make content, so it can amplify some of our existing problems.
Platforms need to step up their efforts to combat misinformation, AI-generated or otherwise. The good news is that while AI-created photos are quite convincing now, deepfake videos aren't yet sophisticated enough to fool most people. The real challenge is twofold: stopping the spread of false information and rebuilding trust in our democratic institutions. As AI ramps up content creation, we need to focus equally on helping people spot misinformation and strengthening their faith in legitimate sources of information.
KB: It's clear we've got our work cut out for us. Now, since this is the AI for Humanity newsletter, I'm curious — what's an AI-powered nonprofit that really excites you?
AF: There are so many! I absolutely can't choose just one (and frankly, Fast Forward supports so many amazing ones that there are just too many to list). Earth Species Project is an incredible nonprofit using AI to decode animal communication. I love Recidiviz and their work to use tech, data, and now AI to sustainably reduce the prison population. Opportunity@Work is moving us toward a skills-based economy, which will be especially important in our AI future, where skills should be paramount and degrees shouldn't unnecessarily hold people back.
KB: Borrowing a question you ask at the end of every Possible episode: Where do you see progress outside of your industry that inspires you?
AF: I can't stop learning and reading about all the amazing innovations AI will unlock in healthcare, biology, and drug discovery. What's possible now and in the near future probably sounded like science fiction not long ago. I'm excited about the potential to cure various forms of cancer and neglected tropical diseases, provide more accurate medical diagnoses, reduce healthcare costs, improve bedside manner, free up doctors and nurses from unnecessary paperwork, and so much more.
KB: Thank you, Aria, for illuminating AI's role in our democracy and future. Readers, to explore the bright side of AI, hit play on Possible. And to create a brighter future, hit the polls.
Quick Bytes
Other Democracy Stories
Can you spot a deepfake? They’re getting better, but so are our tools to fight them. Enter TrueMedia, an AI-powered nonprofit using AI to detect digital manipulation. Their free tools let users submit suspicious social media content for real-time analysis. It's like having a lie detector for your feed.
Here's a silver lining: despite fears about AI swaying elections, MIT Tech Review reports these efforts aren't gaining traction. But, as Aria mentioned earlier, there are plenty of pre-existing threats to democracy, like voter disenfranchisement and eroding trust in institutions that need our attention too. It's a reminder to keep our eyes on the big picture of democracy.
Voting rights shouldn't be a guessing game. Yet, for many formerly incarcerated citizens, they are. Fast Forward alum Free Our Vote is changing that by working directly with returning citizens to clarify their eligibility and even relieve court fee debt that's keeping them from the polls. They use AI and web crawlers to crunch complex data, helping them reach and empower more voters.
APN Funding News
The GitLab Foundation, Ballmer Group, and OpenAI have partnered to continue and expand the AI for Economic Opportunity Fund. The organizations will work together to provide millions in funding, mentorship, and technical support to up to 14 demonstration projects.
Mozilla announced their inaugural Mozilla Builders Accelerator cohort. The program funds and supports impactful projects that are vital to the open source AI ecosystem — including Fast Forward alum Ersilia’s Model Hub.
Salesforce awarded $23M in new grants to global education nonprofits and U.S. school districts to equip students with the skills needed for future success. Grantees included CareerVillage, aiEDU, Fast Forward, and other nonprofits focused on AI skilling and literacy.
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