The first 2024 presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took place on Thursday night, but failed to address one of the most consequential developments since the last election cycle – artificial intelligence (AI). Despite the significant impact of generative AI on various industries, the candidates and moderators chose not to broach the topic during the debate.
The debate, as described by Slate writer Jill Filipovic, was a “debacle” characterized by Biden’s painful and meandering performance and Trump’s barrage of falsehoods. While a wide range of topics were ostensibly covered, including abortion, the economy, climate change, foreign policy, election integrity, immigration, veterans, race, crime, and healthcare, the absence of AI was notable.
Since the release of generative AI in 2022, it has reshaped the economy and labor, causing upheaval in numerous industries. Policymakers in the United States have been scrambling to understand and regulate this technology, while workers fear potential job displacement. Given its significance, it is remarkable that neither candidate nor the moderators chose to address AI during the debate.
The debate highlighted the candidates’ limited understanding of complex technologies like AI, which are actively shaping the world today. Trump, known for his propensity to spread falsehoods, has expressed both concern and admiration for AI. He referred to it as “very dangerous” and “scary” in a February interview, but also claimed to have used a chatbot to write a speech that impressed him. Meanwhile, his former campaign manager, Brad Parscale, is involved in arming the Republican National Committee and the latest Trump campaign with AI-related tools.
While President Biden signed an executive order last year to introduce safeguards for AI, experts consider it vague and lacking in concrete regulations. The absence of AI from the debate highlights the perennial issue of policymakers reacting slowly to emerging technologies and the problems they create. This delay often results in harm to individuals and society, as seen with previous technological advancements.