📢 Voting in the Age of AI

👋 Welcome! AI is rewriting the rules of politics—from deepfake campaigns to policy battles over regulation. Today’s issue explores how algorithms are shaping power, truth, and democracy itself.

Black Mirror Goes Real – Channel 4 shocked viewers by revealing Britain’s first AI TV presenter during Will AI Take My Job? The lifelike host—generated entirely by AI—left audiences unsettled, drawing “Black Mirror” comparisons and sparking debate over authenticity, creative ethics, and whether AI-generated talent could soon replace human storytellers on screen.

Chatbots Misinform Dutch Voters – Ahead of the Dutch election, the country’s data watchdog warned that AI chatbots give unreliable and biased voting advice. Tests showed they pushed users toward two major parties, even when provided smaller-party platforms — raising fresh concerns about algorithmic bias, manipulation, and AI’s growing role in democracy.

Africa Goes Electric – Spiro is accelerating Africa’s clean transport shift, planning to deploy 100,000 electric motorbikes by 2025. With 60,000 already on the road and 1,500 battery-swap stations, its low-cost, high-efficiency model is cutting fuel expenses for riders while creating jobs and reshaping urban mobility across multiple African nations.

Give Meetings Your Full Focus – JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says multitasking during meetings is “disrespectful.” At Fortune’s recent Summit, he urged professionals to close devices, prepare beforehand, and give full attention. Genuine focus, he added, signals respect, sharpens thinking, and sets apart those serious about their careers.

Your Office Habits May Be Tracked – Microsoft Teams will soon auto-update your work location when connected to office Wi-Fi. The tool promises smoother collaboration and visibility for hybrid teams, but also challenges professionals to balance flexibility with accountability as digital tools continue to evolve in the workplace.

Leadership Shake-Up at Novo Nordisk – Several board members of the pharma giant are stepping down after failing to align with the company’s controlling shareholder on future board composition. The clash highlights growing tensions over governance and direction at the maker of Ozempic ahead of its November meeting.

AI Boom Fuels Taiwan Exports – Taiwan’s September export orders surged 30.5% year-over-year driven by soaring global demand for AI high-performance chips. Orders from the U.S. jumped 40%, and China’s rebounded sharply, setting the stage for record export values despite ongoing tariff challenges.

Apple Nears $4 Trillion Milestone – Apple shares jumped 4.2% to record highs, fueled by strong iPhone 17 demand in China and the U.S. Early sales outpaced last year’s model by 14%, pushing Apple’s market cap to $3.9 trillion and reaffirming investor confidence ahead of its October 30 earnings.

VCs Bet on ‘Self-Driving Money’ – Female-led fintech startup Piere has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding led by Grand Ventures to scale its AI platform that automates personal finance decisions. Backed by industry veterans, Piere aims to become the financial operating system for Gen Z and millennial consumers.

Artificial intelligence is swiftly reshaping how politics is practiced—from campaign strategy to regulation and public trust. In 2025, it’s become clear that AI isn’t just a tool; it’s part of the political ecosystem. AI has already transformed how political messages are crafted and delivered, how campaigns identify voters and shape appeals, and even how democratic systems are governed.

Campaigns today are leveraging AI-generated content in ways both innovative and alarming. Political ads using deepfakes have emerged, with parties testing AI-generated impersonations and synthesized messaging to sway opinions. At the same time, public opinion is shifting: a recent survey shows Americans remain cautious, with only about one in ten expecting AI to positively impact elections. These developments raise urgent questions about authenticity, manipulation, and the boundaries of influence.

Beyond campaigns, the governance of AI itself has become a political battleground. In the U.S., the federal government’s “AI Action Plan” sets out national policy priorities for AI infrastructure, innovation, and regulation. Globally, the pace of legislative action is accelerating across dozens of countries, underscoring the geopolitical dimension of AI governance. This shift places pressure on democratic systems to balance openness, accountability, and competitiveness—particularly as powerful private tech actors play bigger political roles.

Ultimately, AI’s impact on politics is both rich with possibility and fraught with risk. On one hand, AI could help drive broader political engagement—enabling personalized civic tools, responsive governance, and more direct input from citizens. On the other hand, if left unchecked, it could amplify distrust, enable hidden influence, and erode the foundations of open democracy. That duality makes one thing clear: politics in 2025 and beyond isn’t just about policies—it’s about the algorithms behind them.

Actionable Insights

3.7 billion

people in 72 countries, nearly half of the world’s population, had the opportunity to vote last year, making 2024 the biggest election year in human history.