How AI is impacting the midterm elections

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - As midterm candidates begin to make their final pitches to voters, experts are speaking out about the impact of artificial intelligence on this election cycle.

Chris Borick, a political science professor at Lehigh University, said AI has become a major issue in several races in the last few months. He noted how different the rhetoric surrounding it has been compared to other new technologies.

“We like tech traditionally as part of our political economy. That’s really changed in the last year, where you see a much more neutral and sometimes negative political position on AI,” Borick said.

Borick said the political calculus surrounding AI has gone from positive to negative in both red and blue states after the backlash.

“That’s picking up on the broader public attitudes and concerns regarding AI, its effect on society, its effect on the economy and effects on their communities. And that’s really popped in this election cycle,” Borick said.

Differences between parties

Both Republican and Democratic candidates have tapped into concerns about AI. But some observers say they are still some noticeable differences in how the two sides discuss the issue.

“I do think that the Republicans have been over the last year plus, have been in a much more close position with the AI companies,” said Shobita Parthasarathy, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan. “And so what you find, I think in general, is that they are trying to talk more about the cost issue. They generally are not talking about the broader issues. They are trying to limit the discussion. They may or they may be less likely to talk about a moratorium.”

Potential for political realignment

Beyond policy discussions, AI has the potential to change politics entirely.

Borick said that at the local level, conservatives, liberals, Republicans and Democrats often align in opposition to data centers or express concerns about AI.

“And when that happens, you have the potential for some political realignments that we might be experiencing,” he said.

A recent poll of Iowa and Ohio voters published online for SEMAFOR found the vast majority of voters want greater regulation of artificial intelligence.