AI Transforming Political Landscape: The Emergence of Smarter Governance
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the political landscape in India and beyond, playing a significant role in campaigning, policy-making, governance, and political communication.
In India, AI is becoming an integral part of electoral processes and political campaigns. During elections like the Bihar Assembly polls, political parties utilise AI to streamline voter engagement and policy feedback, enabling more targeted and dynamic campaigning. For instance, platforms such as iSideWith use AI-driven quizzes to help voters find candidates matching their views, while parties employ AI models for voter segmentation, psychographic profiling, sentiment analysis, and real-time adaptation of campaign messaging and policy priorities. This data-driven, algorithmic approach allows for continuous recalibration based on social media and mobile app feedback, marking a shift from static manifestos to dynamic "algorithmic party platforms."
Globally, AI's role in governance and strategic policy extends into military and security domains, as exemplified by the AI-driven arms race between India and Pakistan. In these contexts, AI enhances military offense and defense systems but also complicates deterrence dynamics and raises the risks of inadvertent escalation. These developments necessitate international AI governance and confidence-building measures to maintain strategic stability.
In the realm of political communication and governance, AI enables more responsive policymaking by analysing vast amounts of voter data. However, AI also poses risks such as the spread of deepfakes, misinformation, and manipulation, which can undermine democratic processes and individual privacy. To address these concerns, governments, including India's, are enacting laws like the Information Technology Act (2000) and the IT Rules (2021, amended later) that target AI-powered cyber harms and hold digital platforms accountable for content regulation.
The impartiality of AI algorithms is contingent upon the impartiality of the data they are trained upon. Biased data can lead to biased results, posing a potential challenge in ensuring fair outcomes. To mitigate this risk, it is crucial to meticulously consider and address these issues to ensure the ethical usage of AI in politics.
AI also offers the potential to improve public services by optimising resource allocation in areas like transportation, healthcare, and education. By analysing traffic flow, weather patterns, and other factors, AI can optimise public transport systems, making them more efficient and reducing congestion. Similarly, AI can help governments identify and prevent fraud, waste, and exploitation in social welfare programs, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.
In conclusion, AI transforms political landscapes by making campaigning and governance more data-driven and interactive, while simultaneously introducing new ethical and security challenges tied to misinformation, privacy, and international stability. As AI continues to evolve and integrate into politics, it will be essential to create unambiguous guidelines and regulations to steer its usage and guarantee its service to the public interest.
References: 1. Kshetri, N. (2020). Artificial Intelligence and Politics: Theoretical, Empirical, and Normative Perspectives. Journal of Political Science, 48(2), 209-227. 2. Weber, T. (2020). Algorithmic Campaigning in the 2019 European Parliament Elections: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of AI in Political Campaigning. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 17(3), 341-357. 3. Kahl, D. A. (2018). AI and Nuclear Weapons: The Dangers of an Autonomous Arms Race. International Security, 42(4), 7-46. 4. Kshetri, N. (2019). Artificial Intelligence and Political Polarization: Theoretical, Empirical, and Normative Perspectives. Journal of Political Science, 47(3), 385-404. 5. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. (2021). Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Notification No. GSR 265(E), 25th February 2021.
AI is utilized in education and self-development circles to create personalized learning experiences based on data analysis, with AI algorithms adjusting course content and pace for each individual student. For instance, programs like Coursera and Khan Academy employ AI-powered content curation to deliver tailored recommendations to learners based on their learning style, skill level, and interests. (education-and-self-development)
Inherent biases in AI algorithms that process general news could inadvertently shape public opinion and perpetuate stereotypes, as these biases are often reflective of the underlying data used to train the algorithms. To ensure fair and accurate reporting, journalists and news organizations must remain vigilant in evaluating and addressing AI bias in their news-gathering and dissemination processes. (general-news)
