Exclusive: OpenAI readies cyber, misinformation defenses ahead of elections
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
OpenAI is announcing new partnerships to combat misinformation, offering its cybersecurity products to state officials and backing legislation ahead of elections in the U.S. and globally.
Why it matters: AI is becoming an election mainstay, with candidates, especially Republicans, using it for their campaigns as voters turn to chatbots for information.
Driving the news: OpenAI is seeking to meet the moment with a series of new efforts shared first with Axios on Wednesday.
- The company is offering its cybersecurity products — Codex Security and its Trusted Access for Cyber program — to registered voting system manufacturers in the U.S.
- It's briefing the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors on the latest cyber capabilities.
- OpenAI will provide live vote counts from The Associated Press beginning this fall in the U.S. and Brazil, and is partnering with Democracy Works to display reliable information about voting and registration processes.
The company is also endorsing transparency legislation to combat deepfakes, including the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act and Preparing Election Administrators for AI Act.
The big picture: AI companies are getting around to what social media companies have had to reckon with since 2016 — their tools have the power to influence elections.
- OpenAI made similar efforts ahead of the 2024 election, during which AI companies faced widespread criticism for inaccurate and misleading information being generated by chatbots.
- In just two years, the technology has improved exponentially and voters are set to face a whole new level of AI-generated upheaval.
