Artificial intelligence has been hailed as a tool of progress, efficiency, and innovation, but beneath the excitement lies a darker reality that is often overlooked. Among the most influential AI systems today is ChatGPT, a conversational model capable of generating human-like responses, shaping ideas, and influencing discussions. While it is celebrated for its ability to assist with writing, brainstorming, and communication, its very power makes it dangerous when placed in the context of democracy. The foundation of democracy rests on informed citizens making decisions based on truthful information, open debate, and accountability. ChatGPT, despite its sophistication, poses serious threats to these pillars because it can amplify misinformation, manipulate narratives, undermine trust in institutions, and erode the very processes that keep democratic societies functioning.
One of the most significant dangers lies in the way ChatGPT can spread misinformation. Democracies depend on a shared understanding of facts, but AI systems trained on vast amounts of internet data inherit the biases, inaccuracies, and falsehoods embedded in that data. When asked about political issues, ChatGPT can generate convincing but factually incorrect answers. Unlike a human liar, ChatGPT does not have intent; however, its ability to produce persuasive, fluent text makes misinformation…