Artificial Intelligence

The Democratic Party is currently facing significant challenges in regaining favor after recent electoral losses, as only 33 percent of Americans view the party positively. The party's struggle to adapt and connect with voters indicates a pressing need for strategic changes to compete effectively in future elections, per commentary from American Enterprise Institute.

The issue:  

The Democratic Party is leaderless and more unpopular than ever, with only 33 percent of Americans holding a favorable view of it. This represents the party's lowest rating since 1992, as Republicans continue to outregister Democrats in crucial swing states.

What they recommend:  

No recommendations provided in the commentary.

Go deeper:  

The Democratic Party must recognize that dismissing popular aspects of Trump's policies will hinder their recovery. Experts suggest that acknowledging voters’ priorities, such as border security and energy abundance, can help Democrats regain ground lost in recent elections. The need for moderation on contentious issues, including immigration and DEI, can create opportunities for compromise and connection with a broader electorate.

This is a brief overview of an op-ed from American Enterprise Institute. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full an op-ed.

Journalism is currently facing significant challenges related to staff layoffs and the rise of artificial intelligence. As automation increases, the representation of diverse voices is at risk, impacting the quality and integrity of reporting, per commentary from Brookings.

The issue:  

The journalism industry is grappling with substantial job cuts, as over 500 media professionals were laid off in January 2024 alone, mainly affecting journalists of color, who represented 42% of those laid off despite being only 17% of the workforce. This trend raises concerns about the future of journalistic integrity and the diversity of perspectives in news reporting.

What they recommend:  

Experts recommend that the integration of AI in newsrooms should be done thoughtfully, prioritizing support for journalists of color who provide valuable insights. Furthermore, they stress the need for equitable hiring practices to ensure diverse voices are included in the journalism field.

Go deeper:  

Diverse voices are crucial in combating the biases inherent in AI systems, which often reflect underrepresented groups in their training data. Historical partnerships, like that between Google and The Afro newspaper, highlight the importance of fair compensation and attribution. By employing more diverse journalists, newsrooms can enrich storytelling and help counteract the adverse effects of AI-driven narratives.

This is a brief overview of a commentary from Brookings. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full commentary.

The exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI) systems is driving unprecedented demands for power that could overwhelm existing infrastructure. If not addressed, U.S. companies may have to relocate AI operations overseas, jeopardizing national competitiveness and security, per commentary from RAND Corporation. 

The issue:  

AI systems are generating immense power requirements, potentially reaching 68 gigawatts (GW) by 2027, which exceeds the total global capacity of only 88 GW in 2022. For instance, a single AI training run could demand up to 1 GW by 2028, leading to significant infrastructure challenges.  

What they recommend:  

Experts recommend modeling future power supply against growing data center demand while exploring efficiency improvements in AI hardware to lessen power needs. They also suggest examining permitting bottlenecks and evaluating new power sources capable of supporting AI workloads.  

Go deeper:  

Recent findings indicate that U.S. data centers face extensive permitting delays, with some projects taking four to seven years for grid connections in critical regions. As U.S. companies seek better power availability abroad, this could enhance the compute capabilities of other nations, presenting economic and military advantages. Without swift action, the U.S. may lag in the global AI race amidst tightening power constraints.  

This is a brief overview of a report from RAND Corporation. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full report.

Overview:  

This article was written by Christopher S. Chivvis and Jennifer Kavanagh at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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• AI systems can both accelerate and complicate decision-making in national security scenarios.
• Overconfidence in AI recommendations could lead to groupthink and potentially dangerous misperceptions.

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Key Quotes:  

• "AI-enabled systems can help accelerate the speed of commanders’ decisions and improve the quality and accuracy of those decisions."
• "In reality, AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, and even the best AI have biases, make errors, and malfunction in unexpected ways."

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What They Discuss:

• The proliferation of AI in national security could slow decision-making because AI systems produce additional data that need to be evaluated.
• AI’s potential to create uncertainty in crisis situations involves deepfake videos and potentially misleading information.
• AI might challenge existing groupthink in decision-making settings by offering out-of-the-box ideas but could also entrench it if decision-makers over-rely on AI recommendations.
• The development of AI tools by well-funded agencies could disturb the balance of influence among key governmental bodies like the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
• Misjudging adversary actions influenced by AI systems could escalate crises due to the risk of miscalculation.

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What They Recommend:

• Implement thorough training for policymakers on AI systems to understand their limits and capabilities.
• Establish an AI governance regime similar to arms control to manage and reduce risks of AI deployment in military contexts.
• Foster international cooperation, especially between the U.S. and China, on AI safety and governance measures.

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Key Takeaways:

• AI has the dual potential to both streamline and complicate crisis decision-making processes.
• Training and prior experience with AI tools are crucial for their effective and safe use.
• Establishing clear norms and agreements on AI use is important for reducing the risk of misperceptions and unintended escalations.
• Policymakers must be wary of AI’s potential to sway groupthink and maintain a balanced approach incorporating human judgement.

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This is a brief overview of the article by Christopher S. Chivvis and Jennifer Kavanagh at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.

Overview:  

This article was written by Tom Wheeler and Blair Levin at Brookings.

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are investigating AI collaborations for potential antitrust violations due to concerns over market concentration and competition.
• AI safety should be a priority alongside competition, suggesting collaborations to set safety standards without disincentivizing competitive practices.

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Key Quotes:

• "Building the AI future around competition and safety should be a no-brainer."
• "AI may be new, but the responsibilities of AI companies to protect their users have been around for literally hundreds of years."

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What They Discuss:

• The potential of AI to surpass human cognitive abilities in the near future and the consequent risks involved.
• The importance of creating uniformly applicable safety standards to prevent a "race to the bottom."
• Examples of effective industry-government collaborations, such as the American Medical Association's standards for doctors and the FINRA’s regulations in the financial industry.
• The necessity for transparency and ongoing oversight in ensuring AI safety standards.
• Historical precedents like the Cybersecurity Social Contract, which balanced collaboration and compliance with antitrust laws.

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What They Recommend:

• Encourage collaboration between AI companies to establish and adhere to AI safety standards.
• Develop a model that evolves as technology advances and incentivizes companies to exceed baseline safety standards.
• Ensure transparency and oversight to enforce compliance and protect public welfare.
• Draw lessons from successful industry-government collaborations to create enforceable AI safety standards.
• Clarify government policy to support AI safety collaborations without impeding competition through an executive order or joint FTC/DOJ statement.

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Key Takeaways:

• AI development must balance safety and competition to protect public interests while fostering innovation.
• Collaboration on AI safety is necessary and can coexist with competitive practices, as evidenced by historical regulatory examples.
• The government needs to adopt a supervisory rather than a dictatorial role in enforcing AI safety standards.
• Clear policies and collaborative frameworks are essential to achieve safe and competitive AI markets.

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This is a brief overview of the article by Tom Wheeler and Blair Levin at Brookings. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.

Overview:

This article was written by Norman Eisen, Nicol Turner Lee, Colby Galliher, and Jonathan Katz and discusses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on U.S. democracy. 

• This article explores the potential of AI technologies to transform democratic governance while also highlighting the risks it poses to election integrity.
• It emphasizes the need for policymakers, advocates, and citizens to stay informed about technological advancements to harness AI's positive potential.

Key Quotes:

1. "AI could revamp election administration processes to make them more efficient, reliable, and secure."
2. "AI is already altering the way candidates conduct their campaigns and can democratize the public comment process.​

What They Discuss:

• AI's role in improving election administration by identifying anomalies in voter lists and reducing the time for reporting election results.
• The risks associated with AI, including phishing attacks on election officials and the potential for disseminating misinformation.
• AI's impact on election campaigns, including the use of generative AI for persuasive communication.
• Concerns about AI-fueled programs fabricating public comments and endorsements.
• The importance of safeguarding democracy against anti-democratic actors and autocrats.

What They Recommend:

• Monitor AI's role in election administration carefully to prevent fraud or disenfranchisement.
• Address the risks associated with AI, such as phishing attacks and misinformation dissemination.
• Leverage AI to democratize the public comment process and enhance citizen engagement.
• Develop strategies to distinguish AI-generated content from genuine public input.
• Emphasize the role of policymakers, advocates, and civil society in guiding AI regulation.

Key Takeaways:

• AI has the potential to improve election administration but requires vigilant monitoring.
• Risks include phishing attacks, misinformation, and potential bias in voter rolls.
• AI is changing election campaigns and public engagement.
• Safeguarding democracy against AI-related threats is essential.
• Policymakers, advocates, and civil society play a crucial role in shaping AI regulation.

Disclaimer: This is a brief overview of Norman Eisen, Nicol Turner Lee, Colby Galliher, and Jonathan Katz's work from The Brookings Institution. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.