Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo recently said that the U.S. government is working “extensively” on a scheme to keep artificial intelligence (AI) from interfering in the 2024 presidential election, with the official expressing concerns over the technology used nefariously.
The U.S. government is working "extensively" to keep artificial intelligence from disrupting the 2024 election, according to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who says she is "very worried" about the technology being used in a nefarious manner. https://t.co/ymGTgu1wbR
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While speaking to reporters, Raimondo said, “AI can do amazing things and AI can disrupt our elections, here and around the world.”
Newsmax reported that the Department of Commerce has established an alliance between the federal government and companies that deal with AI-related issues.
“This is a big deal,” Raimondo said. “This is the largest collection of frontline AI developers, users, researchers, and interested groups in the world.”
“In this consortia, which we’re starting off with more than 200 members, we have Fortune 500 companies, academic teams, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies joined forces to focus on the research and development necessary to enable safe and trustworthy AI systems,” she continued.
Raimondo’s announcement comes after President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign sent an automated message using AI on the day of the New Hampshire primary. The advertisement cited false information regarding the state’s voting times.
The commerce secretary said the federal government’s AI plan would benefit Americans, including journalists, to differentiate valid and invalid information. The high-ranking Biden administration official said she has found that AI companies want to do the right thing.
“Am I worried? Yes,” Raimondo said. “Do I think we have the tools to protect our election and our democracy? Yes. Do I feel based on my interactions with the private sector that they want to do the right thing? By and large, Yes. It’s a big threat.”
Raimondo continued by saying that the federal government would “have to stay ahead of trends” concerning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the usage of AI, pointing out that she’s been asked on multiple occasions if the technology will “eliminate the human race.”
“We are in charge of how we develop and use and regulate AI, so I feel that way about the election,” the commerce secretary said. “And it’s on us, right now, to do the right things.”
Raimondo’s concerns over AI were shared by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in April 2023, who said that the technology could cause “civilization destruction” despite him being an investor in it.
