Exploring AI’s Role in Political Campaigns and Governance

Listen to and Follow ‘Hard Fork’

Available on: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube | iHeartRadio

Hosted by: Kevin Roose and Casey Newton

Produced by: Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones

Edited by: Jen Poyant

Engineered by: Daniel Ramirez

Original music by: Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Pat McCusker, and Rowan Niemisto

This week, we delve into an intriguing question: why are so few political campaigns experimenting with artificial intelligence? Sheera Frenkel, a seasoned reporter for The Times, joins us to share compelling examples of various AI products that have been dismissed by campaigns during this election cycle. These range from AI-generated endorsements featuring long-deceased historical figures to a synthetic recreation of Donald Trump himself.

Additionally, we have the pleasure of interviewing Victor Miller, a Wyoming resident who made headlines by running for mayor with the audacious promise of utilizing a customized ChatGPT bot to manage the city’s affairs. His unique approach raises questions about the future of governance and technology.

Finally, it’s time for our tech check segment, where we share and discuss the productivity applications we have been using to enhance our efficiency and workflow.

Guests:

• Sheera Frenkel, a Times reporter specializing in technology
• Victor Miller, former mayoral candidate in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Additional Reading:

• The Year of the A.I. Election That Wasn’t
• Mayoral Candidate Vows to Let VIC, an AI Bot, Run Wyoming’s Capital City
• Three Apps That Made Me More Productive This Year

Credit… Photo Illustration by The New York Times

Credits

“Hard Fork” is hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, produced by Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones. The show is expertly edited by Jen Poyant, with engineering by Daniel Ramirez. Original music is composed by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Pat McCusker, and Rowan Niemisto. This week’s fact-checking was conducted by Ena Alvarado. We extend special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Nell Gallogly, Dahlia Haddad, and Jeffrey Miranda for their invaluable contributions.