The advent of accessible artificial intelligence, typified by tools like ChatGPT, has both revolutionized businesses and sparked concerns among policymakers and the public. Despite the seemingly unstoppable nature of advanced technologies, it’s important to recognize that people have substantial control over how and where these tools are applied.

Increasing Civic Knowledge:
Politics is often intricate, with limited information available to citizens. Generative AI, building on platforms like isidewith.com, could assist individuals in understanding their beliefs and aligning them with political candidates and parties. Existing websites providing election information could benefit from AI enhancements, offering continuously updated information on candidates and policy issues.

Challenges:
Generative AI systems currently lack reliability and may introduce bias. Concerns about privacy rules and compensation for data usage need resolution before AI can contribute effectively to civic knowledge.

Facilitating Constituent Communication:
Generative AI could aid citizens in identifying elected officials and drafting personalized letters or emails to them. A survey indicated support for using AI in political communication, especially if it facilitates personalized communication with politicians.

Risks:
Politicians may be skeptical of messages they perceive as written by AI, impacting the effectiveness of communication.

Despite potential benefits, using generative AI in political communication raises concerns about authenticity. People might become suspicious if they suspect communication is automated.

Key Lessons from Early Research:

Inclusive Access: Even with user-friendly AI tools, politics remains inaccessible to many historically excluded individuals. Increased availability of AI tools may not ensure equal access unless carefully designed.

Preserving Human Touch: While generative AI could enhance political processes, it’s crucial not to hastily automate relationships that form the social fabric. Balancing AI opportunities with the human touch is essential in political communication.

As generative AI continues to evolve, ethical considerations, bias mitigation, and user privacy must be central to its development and implementation, ensuring a positive impact on democratic processes.