Tech giants Microsoft and OpenAI have announced the launch of a $2 million Societal Resilience Fund. This marks a significant move to counter the growing threat of AI-generated misinformation during several global elections in 2024, including the upcoming US presidential elections.

The fund aims to promote AI education and literacy among voters and vulnerable communities, empowering them to navigate the increasingly complex digital landscape and identify authoritative resources. 

The initiative comes at a critical time, with approximately two billion people expected to participate in democratic elections worldwide this year. The fund will support several organisations, including Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and Partnership on AI (PAI). 

OATS executive director Tom Kamber said, “As AI tools become part of everyday life, it is essential that older adults learn more about the risks and opportunities that are emerging. We are pleased to work with Microsoft and OpenAI on this vital project to make sure that older adults 50+ have access to training, information, and support—both to enhance their lives with new technology and to protect themselves against its misuse.” 

The Societal Resilience Fund is a joint effort that follows through on public commitments made by Microsoft and OpenAI via the White House Voluntary Commitments and the Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in the 2024 elections.

The companies have committed to engaging with a diverse set of global civil society organisations and academics to support efforts that promote public awareness and societal resilience against the use of deceptive AI content. 

Microsoft and OpenAI’s shared goals are to combat the growing risk of bad faith actors using AI and deep fakes to deceive voters and undermine democracy. The fund’s launch underscores the companies’ dedication to tackling AI literacy and education challenges, ensuring that the power of AI is broadly beneficial and that vulnerable communities are armed with the knowledge to navigate the intricate world of artificial intelligence.