Expert Foresight on AI-Driven Disinformation

The 2024 “super election year” demonstrated both the promise and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in democratic processes. Innovative uses, such as AI-powered fact-checking and voter engagement tools, contrasted with harmful applications including deepfakes. Although the overall impact of deepfakes and other AI-generated disinformation was lower than anticipated, experts predict a substantial rise in AI-powered disinformation in the short term, particularly through synthetic media and foreign influence operations. Evidence of AI-enabled manipulation highlights the need for effective regulation and strengthened oversight to safeguard information integrity in a rapidly changing information ecosystem.