| With news of a rogue AI jumping developers’ guardrails, authoritarian governments harnessing its power to ramp up repression, and companies laying off scores of workers, it might be tempting to dismiss the good this technology can do. That would be a mistake, according to Alex Gladstein. In his latest Journal of Democracy online exclusive, Gladstein shows how artificial intelligence can empower defenders of democracy and human rights throughout the world — and why it is crucial they take advantage of it. Read his essay along with the Journal’s other coverage of AI and what its evolution could mean for democratic societies across the globe, free for a limited time. |
| How AI Agents Are Empowering Human-Rights Defenders AI isn’t just a weapon for dictators and tyrants. It can also be a tool for liberty. Human-rights activists are learning how to harness its power and level the playing field for good. Alex Gladstein The Danger of Runaway AI Science fiction may soon become reality with the advent of AI systems that can independently pursue their own objectives. Guardrails are needed now to save us from the worst outcomes. Tom Davidson AI’s Economic Peril AI will transform work and entire economies. The potential benefits also bring a dire risk of rising inequality and job losses. But the worst outcomes can still be avoided. Stephanie A. Bell and Anton KorinekAI and Catastrophic Risk AI with superhuman abilities could emerge within the next few years, and there is currently no guarantee that we will be able to control them. We must act now to protect democracy, human rights, and our very existence. Yoshua Bengio The Real Dangers of Generative AI Advanced AI faces twin perils: the collapse of democratic control over key state functions or the concentration of political and economic power in the hands of the few. Avoiding these risks will require new ways of governing. Danielle Allen and E. Glen Weyl The Limits of Authoritarian AI Artificial intelligence is often seen as a silver bullet for authoritarians, a breakthrough technology making repression cheaper, faster, and more precise. But it has inherent weaknesses, and dictators can’t escape these dilemmas. L. Jason Anastasopoulos and Jie (Jason) Lian The AI Democracy Dilemma A revolution in political participation is underway: Political players and advocacy groups are using AI to draft ballot initiatives, gather signatures, and persuade voters—undermining democratic legitimacy in the process. David Altman AI’s Real Dangers for Democracy Artificial intelligence and its effects on democracy are a matter of choice, not fate. The concerns are longer term than the recent spate of worry about “generative” AI would suggest. The democratic conversation about AI has hardly begun. Dean Jackson and Samuel C. Woolley The Authoritarian Data Problem AI is destined to become another stage for geopolitical conflict. In this contest, autocracies have the advantage, as they vacuum up valuable data from democracies, while democracies inevitably incorporate data tainted by repression. Eddie Yang and Margaret E. Roberts How AI Threatens Democracy Generative AI can flood the media, internet, and even personal correspondence, sowing confusion for voters and government officials alike. If we fail to act, mounting mistrust will polarize our societies and tear at our institutions. Sarah Kreps and Doug Kriner Reimagining Democracy for AI Advances in AI are rapidly disrupting the foundations of democracy and the international order. We must reinvent our democratic infrastructure to ensure our ability to govern in a dramatically different technological world. Aviv Ovadya Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights It is imperative that artificial intelligence evolve in ways that respect human rights. Happily, standards found in landmark UN documents can help with the task of making AI serve rather than subjugate human beings. Eileen Donahoe and Megan MacDuffee Metzger |