The rapid development of generative AI technology is transforming the political landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the 2024 US election. This document provides a research-based overview of the potential impact of generative AI and offers best practices to safeguard the electoral process. The purpose of our review is not to recommend many specific legal or policy actions, but rather to promote clear understanding among voters, journalists, civil society, tech leaders, and other stakeholders about both the risk and promise of AI for electoral democracy in the hope of fostering a more productive public discussion of these issues.
This white paper is the result of a partnership between the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the Stanford Graduate School of Business intended to generate non-partisan, expert recommendations on various critical AI governance issues. In late August 2023, the two institutions hosted a convening of experts from academia, technology, industry, and civil society who explored the challenges of generative artificial intelligence for the 2024 U.S. Election and opportunities for establishing best practices and governance guidelines.