The “Artificial Intelligence in Elections” training organized by International IDEA and financed by Microsoft and OpenAI, with the support of the Central Election Commission of Albania, started today.
The training will take place over three days and will be attended by officials of the electoral bodies and civil society representatives from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Armenia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The aim of this training program is to equip election officials and civil society organizations with an in-depth understanding of AI, highlighting its ethical and human rights implications in electoral administration.
The program aims to explore both the benefits and risks of AI in electoral processes, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable and marginalized groups.
The State Commissioner of Elections, Ilirjan Celibashi, described the activity as unique in terms of the topic it deals with, the time when it takes place, the place where it takes place and even more for the fact that OpenAI and Microsoft themselves are supporters of this activity.
The commissioner underlined the fact that despite the fact that the use of Artificial Intelligence in elections is still in its early stages, the opportunities that AI offers in electoral management are great.
“AI can help combat the growing problems of disinformation during elections. By analyzing online content, AI algorithms can identify and flag the spread of false information, ensuring voters receive reliable information. Also, AI-powered chatbots can answer voters’ questions accurately and quickly, helping them during the election process. Among other things, the applications list the information in the AI and also analyze the election data. AI on large volumes of data can identify potential anomalies. These were used to improve transparency and strengthen public confidence,” he said.
During the 3 days of training, participants will learn how to effectively implement AI solutions within the framework of democratic governance, ensuring that technology strengthens and does not undermine the integrity of electoral management. Election officials will be able to gain knowledge on five key topics: AI Basics, AI Ethics and Human Rights, AI and Elections.
