Human Rights’ Issues and Media/Communication Theories in the Wake of Artificial Intelligence Technologies: The Fate of Electorates in Twenty-First-Century American Politics

Abstract

The ability for individuals to effectively communicate their thoughts, ideas and feelings amongst fellow beings is perceived as one of the greatest features distinguishing man from other living creatures on earth. The freedom to communicate such thoughts—in certain nations of the world—are perceived as one of man’s inalienable rights as a free individual in the society. Consequently, scholars have propounded theories to aid in explaining the trends of thought which modes of communication should follow. The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the twenty-first century into the media industry seems to question the very foundations on which most renowned media and communications theory were founded on. Some scholars argue that political campaign experts have taken advantage of the adoption of innovations in AI technologies in the media to manipulate man’s freedom to communicate and exercise his wishes in the political arena. Consequently, the paper adopts Creswell’s qualitative method for research in the social science since it promotes drawing logical deductions from the analysis of propositions and theorems. The paper observes that the adoption of twenty-first-century AI technologies in the media industries has distorted existing theories of media/communication. Furthermore, the proliferation of AI technologies for politicking tends to adversely violate the inalienable rights individuals have to freely communicate their political opinions during elections. Media/communications scholars are admonished to extend research directed at understanding the degree of influence which AI technology exerts on media/communication theories with a view to addressing rising concerns for mankind and the media industry.