President Joe Biden’s campaign and Democratic candidates are in a competitive race with Republicans to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that could revolutionize American elections and pose a threat to democracy. Democrats are cautious about using AI due to concerns about disinformation. They are currently utilizing AI primarily to locate and engage with voters, as well as identifying and countering deceptive content. However, experts are increasingly worried about the ability of AI to spread falsehoods that could mislead voters or incite violence. The Biden administration aims to regulate AI through executive action but acknowledges the need for congressional legislation. While top tech companies have made voluntary commitments to regulate AI, experts argue that congressional action is necessary to prevent AI abuses.

Both Democrats and Republicans have used AI in campaigns, with Democrats relying on AI to model and build audiences, analyze data, and draft fundraising emails. Democrats are committed to deploying AI responsibly and have established teams to combat misinformation, including AI-generated images and videos. Progressive groups and Democratic candidates have been more proactive in experimenting with AI. However, caution and fear have dominated the political conversation around AI, potentially hindering its potential benefits. Talking about and utilizing AI in campaigns can be challenging due to the misuse of AI by bad actors.