AI Is Shaping What Voters See; Voters Deserve to Know How

Business for America is proud to endorse the Trustworthy AI & Elections statement, a cross-partisan effort led by Democracy Week. It grew out of the SF Innovators & Investors for Democracy Forum, co-hosted by Democracy Week and the Center for Constitutional Democracy at UC Law San Francisco. The statement does not endorse any candidate, party, or bill. Instead, it asks for something simpler and overdue: transparency.

Why we signed

AI systems and recommendation algorithms now shape much of what voters see, hear, and ask about elections. Broadcast political ads have long come with clear rules: sponsors identify themselves, and the public can see who paid. We think AI and digital platforms should meet the same standard. The statement lays out five principles:

1. Authentic and clearly labeled. AI-generated content is clearly marked, and AI never pretends to be human.
2. Transparent funding. Political ads show who paid, including through intermediaries and influencers.
3. Fair platforms. The same published rules apply to every candidate and viewpoint, open to independent review.
4. Accurate voting information. AI tools point voters to official sources on when, where, and how to vote.
5. Public accountability. Companies report the threats they find and the fixes they make, before and after each election.

Why this is a business issue

Trust is infrastructure. Employers and investors rely on it the way they rely on roads, power, and broadband. When people can’t tell what’s real or who’s paying for a message, confidence in elections erodes, and so does the stability every business needs to plan, hire, and grow. 

It’s also in the AI companies’ own interest, since their products are only as valuable as the trust people place in them. With federal rules lagging and state rules in flux, companies that step forward now with clear, public commitments help set workable standards and earn credibility.

What we’re asking

We urge the AI and platform companies named in the statement to adopt these principles and give public, written answers this election cycle and every one after it. Many have already invested in election safeguards. On-the-record answers are how they show it.

“Business leaders spend a lot of time asking what AI will do to our companies. We should spend at least as much time asking what it’s doing to our elections. Transparency is a reasonable place to start, and I hope others in the business community will add their names.” 

—Sarah Bonk, founder & CEO, Business for America

Add your voice

Read the full statement and add your name at democracyweek.net/ai/statement.