Is artificial intelligence quietly accelerating the decline of democracy, or giving every citizen the tools to fight back?
This week I was on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback show to speak with presenter William Crawley and Professor Gina Neff of Queen Mary University of London for a lively debate: is AI a friend or enemy of democracy?
Our 20 minute discussion covered:
How AI tools are reshaping political speechwriting and campaign tactics, sometimes prompting controversy and questions about transparency.
The global spread of election interference through generative AI, highlighting that in 2024, over four-fifths of national elections saw incidents of AI-driven misinformation and dangerous deepfakes.
Why social media and AI amplify challenges around voter manipulation, polarisation, and distrust in what we see.
The dangers of concentrated corporate power in AI, and what “sovereign AI” might mean for nation, and for their citizens.
The critical importance of citizen curiosity and digital resilience: democracy thrives only if we ask hard questions, verify what we see, and remain engaged with how technology is shaping society.
Some key quotes
“Unless you’re curious as a citizen, unless you understand what the technology can and can’t do, then that’s where it’s going to ride roughshod over us all.”
“Even I’m now questioning what I’m seeing—is it real or not? And that’s an issue for everyone.”
“To play in AI, you have to have deep pockets and deep money, and there aren’t many of those people around. That’s where the challenge will be: concentrating power with only a few companies.”
“My advice? Use ‘old-school technology’ to beat cybercriminals leveraging AI, like having a family password to verify requests.”
This isn’t a distant future: these challenges and opportunities are shaping democracy right now. The key is to get involved, stay curious, and demand accountability from those building our technological world.
It was a long discussion. If you want to listen, you can listen below.
