French Elections: AI Already Influences One in Six Voters

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Key Takeaways

1A study by Toluna Harris Interactive reveals that 16% of French people used AI to vote in the municipal elections.

2Among these users, 5% changed their voting choice after consulting a generative AI.

3Young people and lower socio-professional categories are the most likely to turn to AI for political information.

💡Why it matters — The growing use of AI in the electoral process could transform how voters make their decisions in the future.

The Growing Impact of AI on Voting in France

A recent study by Toluna Harris Interactive, published by the think tank Terra Nova, reveals an emerging trend among French voters: the use of artificial intelligence to guide their electoral choices. This online survey conducted during the municipal elections among over 4,000 voters in municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants shows that 16% of French citizens turned to a generative AI tool to inform their vote in the first round of the municipal elections. Jean-Daniel Lévy, Deputy Director of Toluna France, emphasizes the significance of this phenomenon, noting that one in six French people consulted an AI for electoral advice.

Diversity of Electoral Behaviors

The study identifies three distinct behaviors among AI users: 7% used AI to confirm an already established choice, 5% changed their vote after consultation, and 4% of undecided voters made their decision thanks to AI. Thus, nearly a third of users had their decision influenced by a machine, raising questions about the impact of these technologies on the democratic process.

Profile of AI Users

The study also outlines a profile of voters using AI. Men are more likely to use these tools, representing 20% of users compared to 10% for women. Young people under 25 years old are particularly keen, making up 35% of users, while only 1% of voters aged 75 and older have turned to it. Surprisingly, CSP- (workers and employees) are more inclined to use AI (17%) than executives and higher intellectual professions (13%), which Jean-Daniel Lévy attributes to a distancing from traditional political information sources.

AI in the Media Landscape

Despite this growing adoption, AI remains a secondary information channel. It is only the 14th most used means by voters to inform themselves about the campaign, far behind leaflets (59%), word of mouth (47%), regional press (36%), and social media (32%). Therefore, AI has not yet supplanted traditional information methods, but it adds a new dimension to the political landscape.

Towards an AI-Dominated Future?

The future may see AI playing an even more central role. An Ipsos-BVA study from January indicated that 48% of French people had already used or were considering using AI for political information, a figure reaching 75% among 18-24 year-olds. Although the gap between intention and actual action remains significant, the trend towards AI adoption is clear.

The upcoming presidential elections in 2027 could mark a turning point. Emmanuel Macron has predicted an increased use of AIs to guide electoral choices, a prospect that raises questions about the transparency and potential biases of the recommendations provided by these technologies.

Reflections on the Future of Democracy

A study from MIT, published in Nature, showed that prolonged interactions with a biased AI can reinforce or weaken adherence to a candidate. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the growing influence of technologies on electoral choices and the implications for democracy.