It's the AI Election Year

It's the AI Election Year

Author: WIRED May 30, 2024 Duration: 35:16
In the largest global election year yet, generative AI is already being used to trick and manipulate voters around the world. Will this growing trend have real impact? Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we talk about a new online project that will be tracking the use of AI in elections around the world. Plus, Nilesh Christopher dives into the lucrative industry of deepfakes, and how politicians are using them to bombard Indian voters. Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Vittoria Elliot is @telliotter. Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here. Mentioned this week: AI Global Elections Project  “Indian Voters Are Being Bombarded With Millions of Deepfakes. Political Candidates Approve,” by Nilesh Christopher “A Far-Right Indian News Site Posts Racist Conspiracies. US Tech Companies Keep Platforming It” by Vittoria Elliot and David Gilbert

Navigating today's political landscape means understanding the forces that shape it online, where the lines between news, conspiracy, and entertainment are increasingly blurred. WIRED Politics Lab is a weekly exploration of this digital arena, hosted by WIRED's own reporters. They don't just recount the headlines; they delve into the mechanics of internet extremism and the spread of disinformation, examining how these phenomena influence real-world politics and policy. Each episode functions as a guided tour through a complex and often chaotic information ecosystem. You'll hear conversations grounded in factual reporting and research, designed to unpack the week's most pressing and puzzling developments. The goal is to provide more than just analysis-it's about equipping you with context and clarity. This podcast offers tools to critically assess the narratives flooding our feeds, helping to distinguish signal from noise. Tune in for a substantive, sometimes surprising look at how politics operates in the age of algorithms and viral campaigns, and leave with a sharper understanding of the digital currents driving our collective future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

WIRED Politics Lab
Podcast Episodes
Laura Loomer: The ‘Free Spirit’ Whispering in Trump’s Ear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:49
From political fundraisers to the presidential debate to a September 11 commemoration, far-right influencer Laura Loomer has become a staple in former president Donald Trump’s political entourage. WIRED’s David Gilbert a…
No Dogs or Cats Were Harmed In the Making of This Post-Debate Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:06
WIRED’s Makena Kelly and Tim Marchman join Leah to discuss the memorable moments, the policies and, of course, the conspiracies that came up in Tuesday’s presidential debate. Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Makena Kelly is @…
The AI Porn Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
A few months ago, everyone seemed worried about how AI would impact the 2024 election. Lately, it seems like some of the panic has dissipated, but political deepfakes — including pornographic images and video — are still…
Influencers Take Over the DNC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:17
The Democratic National Convention organizers really rolled out the blue carpet for influencers this year. Today on the show, WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly joins from Chicago to talk about the Democrats’ strategy of…
Kamala Harris' Brat Summer Is Almost Over. What's Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
Team Trump was winning the internet until the Harris-Walz campaign took over. But Democrats can’t just keep calling Republicans “weird” and celebrating Brat Summer until election day. Today on the show, writer and critic…
The Right is Still Pushing Election Denial — and Pillows [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:16
The election denial movement lives on, thanks in part to the efforts of well-funded and well-organized far-right activists. Today on the show, CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan joins Wired Politics Lab to talk about his…
How QAnon Destroys American Families [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:54
Q hasn’t posted anything since 2022. But a staggering number of Americans still buy into QAnon, the conspiracy movement steeped in claims that Satan-worshiping pedophiles run the US government. Today on the show, journal…
From In the Dark: Season 3, Episode 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:44
Today, we're bringing you a special preview of the new season of the New Yorker investigative podcast In the Dark, hosted by Madeleine Baran. The series examines the killings of twenty-four civilians in Haditha, Iraq, an…
Silicon Valley is Coconuts for Kamala Harris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:54
Today on WIRED Politics Lab, how Democratic megadonors in Silicon Valley are showing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris now that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the race. Plus, why posts from the far-r…