India's election serves as a "test bed" for artificial intelligence.

Intelligence artificially created - India's elections serve as a "test bed" for artificial intelligence.

Harikrishnan Vasanthakumar may have passed away four years ago, but his spirit lives on through a video where he passionately endorses his son's candidacy for the Indian parliamentary election. This virtual resurrection of Vasanthakumar was made possible by the wonders of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In the world's largest democracy - where India holds the crown for being the most populous country - it was inevitable that AI would be used in political campaigns. In this year's election, all major political parties have leveraged AI to engage with their voters. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi jumped on the AI bandwagon, and it appears his efforts have paid off as all polls predict a third term in office. The voting process concludes on Saturday, and the results will be declared on June 4th.

Campaigning Using AI

With around one billion eligible voters, reaching as many people as possible became a crucial factor in India's election campaign. AI gave political parties the upper hand in this regard. Katja Muñoz, an expert on AI in elections at the German Society for Foreign Policy in Berlin, sees AI's application in politics as both a blessing and a curse. While the technology has the potential for manipulation, it can also be used to reach a wider audience and communicate in multiple languages - something Modi successfully exploited. The debate on whether this is good or bad in the world's largest democracy is minimal.

Lies Through AI

AI-generated content like Vasanthakumar's video is not a one-off case in India's election. High-profile Bollywood actors have been caught unaware, appearing in AI-generated recordings that criticized Modi without their consent. Many political opponents resorted to creating "Deepfakes," a term used for AI-generated media content that has been altered, created, or falsified using AI techniques.

Reaching out with AI

AI played a significant role in enabling personalized contacts between candidates and voters. An example of this was Deepfakes that made candidates appear to have a one-on-one conversation with their supporters. Direct messages were sent out right to the voters' phones, ensuring that the message reached the target audience. Polymath Synthetic Media Solutions, a company that provides synthetic content as a service, allowed its clients to create AI videos where candidates seemed to be addressing their voters directly. These videos were then distributed through WhatsApp, a popular messaging app in India.

Throughout the election, Rajneethi Political Management, a consultancy firm, engaged in this practice, sending nearly six million personalized video messages to voters for 28 candidates. They also created QR codes that would display holograms of politicians upon scanning, and the message would be tailored to the target demographic. For instance, candidates might discuss job creation in regions with a young population.

AI's Limits

Despite the advancements in AI technology, it does have its limitations. For instance, interactive voice calls with the voices of politicians itself can sometimes result in incorrect conversations. Divyendra Singh Jadoun, CEO of Polymath Synthetic Media Solutions, recounted examples where the AI hallucinated. For instance, a politician might be made to appear as a champion of women's rights, even though he wasn't. It should be noted that his company set strict ethical standards and only engages in creating "positive" Deepfakes.

Ethics of AI in Elections

While AI-generated content can be positive, it can also be misleading and even damaging. This is why laws need to be put in place to protect and promote democracy. According to Sven Nyholm, a professor of AI ethics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, we must set guidelines for the use of AI in elections.

The use of AI in political campaigns is a double-edged sword that's bound to change the face of Indian politics forever. AI allows for more personalized campaigns, but it can also lead to misinformation and lies. Upcoming elections in the United States, like the presidential race between the Democrats and Republicans in November, could see AI being used as well.

However, AI is a double-edged sword. While it can bring candidates closer to their supporters, it can also be used for malicious purposes, like spreading false information and manipulating voters. With the world's attention now on AI in politics, governments and citizens alike will need to come to terms with the potential benefits and pitfalls of this technology. India's massive election serves as a valuable trial run for other countries.

In the years to come, AI will have a profound impact on political engagement, requiring citizens to stay even more vigilant to ensure fair and honest elections. Global consultancies will also need to grapple with the ethical realities of using AI to influence people's decisions. India's example serves as a heads-up for what the future may hold.