Name: How AI could hack democracy
Uploaded: 2024-10-31T14:55:42Z
Duration: 19 min 15 s
Description: Does AI pose a threat to democracy? Law professor Lawrence Lessig dissects how this emerging technology could influence democratic institutions, warning that we’ve already passed a point (before superintelligence or AGI) that deserves a lot more attention.

Lawrence Lessig: How AI could hack democracy

How AI could hack democracy

Does AI pose a threat to democracy? Law professor Lawrence Lessig dissects how this emerging technology could influence democratic institutions, warning that we’ve already passed a point (before superintelligence or AGI) that deserves a lot more attention.

AI systems, even before reaching superintelligence, have begun to warp democratic processes by exploiting human weaknesses and shaping collective perceptions. Social media algorithms drive polarization and misinformation, creating a more divided and less informed public than at any time since the Civil War. Attempts to regulate or control these powerful systems often fall short, leaving democracy increasingly vulnerable. New models of citizen engagement offer hope, but urgent action is needed to safeguard democratic decision-making.