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The 2027 presidential election is approaching, and a question already looms over the debates: will artificial intelligence reshape the contours of our democracy? An Odoxa-Backbone poll for Le Figaro reveals a striking paradox: French people massively fear manipulations linked to generative AI, while also considering integrating it into their own electoral decision-making process. How can this distrust and curiosity be reconciled?
A year before the election, AI is no longer a mere tech topic; it is becoming a major political issue. Citizens find themselves caught between the fear of deceptive content, such as deepfakes, and the desire to use tools like ChatGPT to refine their opinions. This is a profound tension, the consequences of which for the upcoming campaign remain uncertain.
AI: Between Promise of Progress and the Specter of Manipulation
Artificial intelligence continues to be perceived as a driver of tangible progress in various areas of daily life. Whether it’s improving medical diagnoses or optimizing workflows, its benefits are often highlighted.
✅ Positive Points
Health: 69% of French people see an opportunity here. A notable progression in a few months, highlighting hope for improved care.
Productivity: 59% of respondents believe AI fosters efficiency, an asset for businesses and the economy.
Education: Even in this sensitive sector, 43% of French people perceive AI as an opportunity, recognizing its pedagogical potential.
⚠️ Points of Concern
Personal Data: 87% see it as a threat. The protection of our privacy remains a major concern in the face of algorithms.
Intellectual Property: 80% are concerned. Creators fear for their copyrights in the face of automatic content generation.
Information Veracity: 79% believe AI undermines the reliability of sources. An immense challenge for our ability to distinguish truth from falsehood.
Democracy: 75% perceive a danger to political balances and the conduct of calm debates.
But this acceptance crumbles as soon as the foundations of our society are addressed. Concern figures soar when AI touches information and our institutions. And then, a stark reality.
The Digital Divide of Political Elites and the Fear of an “Augmented” Campaign
The perception that political leaders are lagging on the topic of artificial intelligence is almost unanimous. Eight out of ten French people believe that future presidential candidates are not adequately addressing these crucial issues. This observation spans across the entire political spectrum.
A Sense of Collective Powerlessness
This perceived deficiency in public debate, combined with the rapid evolution of AI, fuels a very concrete anxiety: that of a presidential campaign directly influenced, or even manipulated, by algorithms. 70% of French people fear that AI will be used to sway the outcome of the 2027 election.
Older generations, particularly those over 65, show particular anxiety, with 76% of them anticipating manipulation attempts. While younger people appear less alarmed, the conviction that AI will play an influential role remains prevalent across all age groups. This is a concern that transcends partisan divides.
Voters and AI: A Confusing “Love Me, Love Me Not” Relationship
Vulnerability to artificial content is another salient point of the poll. 81% of French people admit they are unable to identify at least one type of AI-generated content. Texts pose a major challenge, with 71% unable to recognize an article or speech written by a machine. Worse, more than half struggle to identify a completely fabricated image or video. It’s a bit like being asked to distinguish a real banknote from a perfect counterfeit, but without being given a magnifying glass.
The generational factor remains essential, even if the problem affects all segments of the population. Among 18-24 year olds, often described as “digital natives,” 61% admit difficulties with AI-generated texts. But wait, there’s more.
This is where the paradox reaches its peak. Despite this widespread distrust and feeling of being ill-equipped, a quarter of French people plan to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude during the presidential campaign. They want to consult programs and get information on political figures. Even more surprisingly, 10% say they are ready to let AI help them make their electoral choice. Among 25-34 year olds, this figure climbs to 18%. Enough to make Marc, the CEO who’s worried about his teams, scratch his head.
AI is no longer just a technical tool; it is becoming a conversational, immediate, and personalized intermediary between citizens and the political arena. This disrupts our traditional relationship with information and democracy. The question then is not only whether AI will manipulate elections, but whether we are ready to give it the keys to our civic consciousness. And you, what place will you give AI in your 2027 voting decision? One thing is certain: the ballot has never seemed so connected.
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À propos de Rigaud Mickaël
Passionné de tech et adepte de Linux, je décrypte l’IA avec une vision unique et intense pour la rendre utile à tous, entre robots, rock et univers geek.
