The McCain Institute and the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy convened journalists, policy experts, and elected officials in Phoenix to discuss the impact of AI on elections
Pictured: Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates, ASU Elections Law Faculty Associate Sarah Gonski, and PBS Newshour West Host Stephanie Sy. Click HERE to watch the event. This is the second in a series of U.S. democracy-focused events hosted by the McCain Institute this fall.
PHOENIX, ARIZ. (October 18, 2024) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) hosted “AI + 2024 Elections: Navigating A Messy Information Space,” with the German Marshall Fund’s (GMF) Alliance for Securing Democracy at ASU’s Beus Center for Law and Society yesterday in Phoenix. Speakers included Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates, PBS NewsHour West Anchor Stephanie Sy, ASU Global Security Initiative Executive Director Nadya Bliss, ASU Elections Law Faculty Associate Sarah Gonski, Alliance for Securing Democracy at GMF Managing Director Rachael Dean Wilson, Alliance for Securing Democracy at GMF Senior Fellow Bret Schafer, and McCain Institute Director of Democracy Programs Paul Fagan. They discussed artificial intelligence (AI) as it pertains to election integrity and preparedness for the upcoming election in Arizona.
“AI is more of a vehicle than a new threat, we’ve been facing mis- dis- and mal-information for quite some time in elections,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve had the veracity of our elections challenged by conspiracy theories; the nature of that is amplified by the potential that generative artificial intelligence presents. But we’ve been training elections officials with [artificial intelligence], so when it shows up in the real world, they wouldn’t be surprised by it, and they can get right back to the fundamentals.”
In light of rapid technological advances, voters have grown increasingly concerned about the threat AI poses as a low-cost way to supercharge the spread of more convincing false narratives. Already during this election cycle, over 25,000 New Hampshire voters received a call from an AI-generated voice mimicking President Biden encouraging them not to vote, and foreign adversaries—including both Russia and China—are reportedly experimenting with AI to meddle in the election. Panelists discussed the potential dangers and benefits of generative AI on elections.
“Artificial intelligence is a real concern for Americans across the country, especially when it comes to their private information and voting records,” said McCain Institute Director for Democracy Programs Paul Fagan. “We’ve assembled this group of journalists, lawyers, policy experts, and elected officials in the pivotal state of Arizona to dispel falsehoods regarding AI, and reinforce trust in our electoral system, especially as early voting has started in states across the country.”
“Arizona election officials have done a remarkable job leading nationally on the issue of artificial intelligence and elections,” said the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund’s Managing Director Rachael Dean Wilson. “From content provenance to convening experts from across the country, Arizona lives up to its reputation for being a place that fosters innovation. Secretary Fontes and Supervisor Gates showed us what leadership looks like during last night’s discussion, explaining why Arizonans can trust their elections in spite of this messy and confusing information space.”
The McCain Institute is hosting a series of U.S. Democracy focused events around the country this fall, which began with a launch event last month. Upcoming events will take place Oct. 22 at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, Oct. 23 at ASU’s Barrett & O’Connor Center in Washington, D.C., and Oct. 29 and 30 at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Milwaukee.
Learn more about the McCain Institute’s Democracy Programs HERE.
Watch the Phoenix event HERE.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.