One in Four Israelis Considering AI for Election Voting Decisions, Poll Finds

A survey conducted by the Israeli Internet Association reveals that one in four Israelis are contemplating the use of artificial intelligence tools to help decide their vote in upcoming elections. The poll also indicated that 71% of the public have encountered misinformation and fake news related to elections, with 57% seeing fake or impersonating accounts and 48% encountering AI used to defame or abuse individuals. The Association cautioned the public that AI responses are not objective recommendations and can be unreliable, potentially using outdated or incorrect information, blurring fact and interpretation, omitting context, or even fabricating details.

Furthermore, the data shows that 69% of the public are highly concerned that political discourse surrounding elections could escalate online violence, a concern amplified by the widespread exposure to misinformation. While 71% reported encountering false election-related information, there's a notable difference between Jewish and Arab citizens, with 74.5% of Jews and 56.4% of Arabs reporting such encounters.

In response to these findings, the Israeli Internet Association has published a guide to combatting misinformation during elections. The guide aims to equip voters with tools to navigate the information flow, counter disinformation, and resist manipulation that could influence their decisions. Key recommendations include verifying the source of information, prioritizing reliable outlets, cross-referencing information, and checking publication dates and context.

The Association highlighted that 25% of Israelis are positively considering or intend to use AI or other online services for election decision-making. This openness varies significantly between Jewish and Arab communities, with 22.2% of Jewish Israelis and 39.6% of Arab Israelis expressing willingness to use these tools.

While acknowledging AI's potential as a learning and comparative tool, the Association reiterated that AI outputs are not definitive sources. They recommend using AI for research, comparison, and fact-checking, suggesting prompts like comparing party stances on issues, requesting official sources, or asking for arguments for and against policies without seeking a direct recommendation. Crucially, voters are urged not to rely solely on AI answers but to verify the provided sources, ensuring their existence, recency, and support for the claims made.