Izcano's Views on Artificial Intelligence, Democracy, and Power.

In 2024, 70 countries will have elections. These countries are home to approximately half of the world's population. In an event rarely seen before, there will be another aspect that will affect the shape of democracies worldwide, the development and extensive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI poses a threat to humanity if regulators do not understand how it works and if, at the same time, actors inside and outside politics use it to mislead the electorate. 

For example, in the US, Texas-based Life Corp used AI to mimic the voice of President Joe Biden. Through a series of calls to New Hampshire residents, people were told not to vote in the primary election, but instead to focus on the presidential election in November. While the company only received a cease-and-desist letter, larger companies such as Meta or X have had problems with ethical issues. The main reason was the dismissal of staff working on ethics or election policies, as part of the mass layoffs experienced in 2023. 

While the population is unprepared, one can only hope for measures to be taken in an era characterised by the interplay between democracy and technology.