Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled a new initiative aimed at combating disinformation threats to democracy posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The $200 million initiative includes contributions from left-wing philanthropies, including George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and Pierre Omidyar’s Omidyar Network and Democracy Fund. The project seeks to prevent AI from negatively impacting elections and marginalized communities, while also developing inclusive and rights-respecting AI governance frameworks.
The left-wing philanthropies involved in the initiative are dedicated to protecting U.S. democracy from the destabilizing effects of AI, as stated in the project document. Their efforts focus on defending free and fair elections, combating disinformation, and preserving public trust. Additionally, the philanthropies are funding projects aimed at developing equitable AI policies and safeguarding historically marginalized communities.
Vice President Harris is set to announce the project at the Global Summit on AI Safety in the United Kingdom. The initiative encompasses various projects aimed at improving policymakers’ understanding and use of AI to shape effective and equitable policies.
It’s worth noting that Open Society Foundations and Omidyar Network have significant left-leaning affiliations. George Soros, the founder of Open Society Foundations, donated nearly $179 million to Democrats during the 2022 midterm election cycle, while his son Alex took over the organization and has made extensive contributions to Democrats. Similarly, Pierre Omidyar contributed to the NeverTrump PAC in 2016.
Furthermore, Open Society Foundations and Omidyar’s Democracy Fund have provided substantial financial support to organizations involved in partisan activities. For example, they granted millions of dollars to the Voter Registration Project (VRP), a group that purported to be nonpartisan but aimed to assist Democrats in winning the 2020 elections, according to a report by the Capital Research Center.
In addition to this initiative, the coalition composed of Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and MacArthur Foundation has pledged over $500 million to fund and influence local media outlets. MacArthur Foundation is leading this coalition and has committed $150 million in grants. It’s worth noting that MacArthur Foundation has historically given money to left-wing organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Tides Foundation, and Environmental Defense Fund.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to the White House, Democracy Fund, Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation for comments, but they did not respond.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled a $200 million initiative to address the threats posed by AI disinformation to democracy. Left-wing philanthropies, including Open Society Foundations and Omidyar Network, are contributing to the project, which aims to protect free and fair elections, combat disinformation, and develop inclusive AI governance frameworks.
