The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has reported that artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to enhance, not revolutionize, foreign influence operations targeting the 2024 U.S. elections. While AI is viewed as a powerful tool for spreading disinformation, it’s not considered a revolutionary game-changer in the hands of foreign operatives.
According to the ODNI, the effectiveness of AI-generated content in influencing U.S. elections depends on several factors. Foreign actors must overcome restrictions built into many AI tools to avoid detection. They also need to develop sophisticated AI models and strategically target and disseminate content to maximize its impact.
Foreign operatives, particularly from Russia and Iran, are leveraging AI to overcome language barriers and disseminate disinformation to U.S. voters. For instance, Iran has used AI to generate Spanish content on immigration, a highly divisive topic in U.S. politics. Russia, on the other hand, has produced the most AI-related content concerning the U.S. election, focusing on supporting former President Donald Trump and denigrating Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign.
China is also employing AI to amplify divisive issues within the U.S. political landscape, but its primary aim is not necessarily to influence election outcomes. The ODNI stated that pro-China online actors have used AI-generated news anchors and inauthentic social media accounts with AI-generated profile pictures to sow divisions on issues such as drug use, immigration, and abortion.
These developments highlight the growing threat posed by AI-powered disinformation campaigns. Previous incidents include Russian operatives staging a fake video claiming that Harris paralyzed a young girl in a hit-and-run accident in 2011. Last month, the Trump campaign blamed “foreign sources hostile to the U.S.” for a cyberattack, leading President Joe Biden to accuse Russia of seeking to interfere with the 2024 election. Earlier this month, U.S. intelligence agencies revealed that Iran attempted to share hacked information from the Trump campaign with the Biden campaign.
The use of AI in foreign influence operations is a serious concern for U.S. elections. As AI technology continues to advance, it’s crucial for authorities and the public to remain vigilant against disinformation campaigns and protect the integrity of democratic processes.
