What political violence and the rise of AI reveal about the state of trust

I have spent much of this week thinking about the attempt on President Trump’s life. Political violence is lamentable in all its forms. As someone with ties to countries like Chile and Israel, I have seen firsthand how damaging assassinations are to the psyche of a nation, and how they tend to further divide a country that was already on the brink. There is no justification for killing a presidential candidate, no matter how much we disagree with their policies.

At the same time, I attended a fascinating event on AI yesterday, hosted by Salesforce and the Eurasia Group, where I heard leaders talk about the potential for AI to create a more innovative, safe, and inclusive future. It was a stark contrast to the events of the past few days. I left hopeful that we can reverse the political headwinds and polarization we are experiencing.

There is a collective fear around AI, particularly amongst people and communities that have been left behind by prior technological advancements. And, there are many places where technology has lagged so much that access continues to be an issue. We must work tirelessly to ensure inclusive and equitable access to AI and other emerging technologies.

We should also begin to leverage AI more effectively for good. How could we use it to gather wisdom from different sources and unique stakeholders? At FSG, we talk about hearing from the people closest to the issues. What if we could do that at scale?

AI will – and should – alter the ways in which we engage with the political process. What if we could better personalize the information we receive? Or learn where candidates stand (and have stood) on the issues we care about most? These examples are just the tip of the iceberg.

We will need creative solutions to combat political polarization. AI could provide some opportunities. Let’s explore them- as we have no time to waste.