
As we approach the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are likely to compete for the Oval Office, AI is set to play a bigger role than ever before. The rise of artificial intelligence is transforming the way campaigns operate, how voters are targeted, and even how misinformation spreads. The big question is: how will AI affect this election? Let’s take a closer look at how AI is currently being used in political campaigns, the risks, and what it all means for voters.
AI in Campaign Strategy: Targeting Voters More Precisely
In past elections, data analysis helped campaigns figure out which voters they should focus on. But now, AI has stepped in and made this process even more precise. Instead of just looking at past voting behavior or polling, AI can now predict what matters to voters based on their online activity.
For example, back in 2016, Donald Trump’s campaign used data from Cambridge Analytica to micro-target voters. AI tools helped the campaign understand exactly what messages would resonate with undecided voters in key battleground states. According to The Guardian, these targeted ads were part of why Trump performed well in those critical areas. While Trump wasn’t the only campaign using data, the AI-driven tools gave him an edge in targeting the right messages at the right people.
Fast forward to 2024, and both the Trump and Harris campaigns are likely to rely even more heavily on AI. With more advanced tools at their disposal, they’ll be able to refine their strategies, sending highly personalized content to voters that focuses on what matters most to them.
AI on Social Media: Fueling the Fight
Social media is one of the most powerful tools in modern politics, and AI plays a huge role in it. AI doesn’t just curate the content we see — it also creates it. Deepfake technology, which can generate fake but convincing videos, and AI-generated audio clips are being used by supporters on both sides to slander their opponents.
During the 2020 election, researchers noticed a rise in the use of AI-generated content aimed at misleading voters. A study by Sensity AI reported that many political deepfakes started to circulate, with the goal of spreading false information about candidates. This is a trend we’ll likely see more of in 2024. Imagine a deepfake of Kamala Harris saying something inflammatory or an AI-generated audio clip that sounds just like Trump making false promises. These tactics could trick voters into believing misinformation and may play a bigger role than ever before in the upcoming election.
AI in Predicting Election Outcomes
While polls have been the traditional method for predicting who might win an election, AI is becoming more reliable at forecasting the outcome. AI models analyze not only polling data but also things like social media sentiment and voter behavior trends to make predictions.
For instance, an AI tool named Polly, developed by the data analytics firm Advanced Symbolics Inc., managed to predict the 2016 U.S. election with impressive accuracy. Unlike traditional pollsters, Polly used data from social media to get a sense of voter sentiment, which gave it a better idea of how undecided voters were leaning. It wasn’t just lucky guesses either; the tool was analyzing real-time changes in public opinion based on what people were saying online.
As we head toward 2024, more AI models like Polly are in development. These tools will help both campaigns and the public understand where the election might be heading — sometimes with more precision than human experts.
Ethical Concerns: Is AI Hurting Democracy?
While AI has its benefits, like helping campaigns connect with voters, there are also serious ethical concerns. Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, warns that AI could be used to manipulate voters on a massive scale. With enough data, AI could essentially “profile” voters and predict their choices, leading campaigns to manipulate what people see to subtly influence their decisions.
At the same time, Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, has pointed out that social media algorithms — many powered by AI — are designed to keep people engaged, often by feeding them sensational content. In many cases, this content isn’t factual but is designed to grab attention, which could skew the public’s understanding of key issues.
When AI is used to amplify misinformation or manipulate what people see, it can undermine the fairness of elections. If only certain voters see accurate information while others are flooded with misleading content, it can create an uneven playing field.
AI for Voter Engagement: More Than Just Manipulation
But AI isn’t just being used for manipulation — it can also be a force for good. Campaigns are using AI tools like chatbots to engage with voters directly. In fact, during the 2020 U.S. election, AI-powered chatbots were used to help people register to vote, answer their questions about the election process, and remind them of key deadlines.
According to a report from MIT Technology Review, these chatbots made it easier for campaigns to reach large numbers of voters, ensuring that people were informed and ready to participate in the election. With more AI tools available, campaigns in 2024 will likely use them even more to engage with voters, helping them make informed decisions and simplifying the voting process.
Conclusion: AI’s Growing Influence
AI is becoming an essential part of political campaigns, and its influence will only grow in the 2024 presidential election. From targeting voters with personalized messages to generating misleading content on social media, AI has the potential to shape how elections are fought — and even who wins. But it’s not all bad. AI can also be used to engage voters in positive ways, helping them stay informed and involved.
As AI becomes more integrated into election campaigns, voters will need to be more critical of the information they see. Misinformation will be harder to spot, and the lines between reality and AI-generated content will blur. It’s up to all of us to stay vigilant, ask questions, and verify the sources of our information. Because in 2024, AI won’t just influence the election — it could determine its outcome.