Can You Trust What You See? AI and the Future of Democracy
Thursday January 22nd, 2026, from 6-8pm
Dexter’s Pub
8114 Main Street
Dexter, MI 48103
“Can You Trust What You See? AI and the Future of Democracy”
“That video of a candidate saying something shocking? Could be fake. That grassroots
movement flooding your feed? Might be bots. The campaign message that perfectly speaks to
your deepest fears? Algorithmically designed just for you.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping politics in real-time. Deepfakes make “seeing is believing”
obsolete. Chatbots manufacture false consensus and overwhelm genuine voices. Sophisticated
targeting turns campaigns into psychological operations, delivering custom-tailored messages
that bypass our rational defenses.
We’re not just talking about election interference anymore—we’re watching the fundamental
rules of political discourse get rewritten. How do we preserve informed democracy when
disinformation scales infinitely? When anyone can generate thousands of unique fake news
articles? When the line between persuasion and manipulation disappears?
Join us for a critical discussion on AI’s impact on politics: the threats we face, the opportunities
we’re missing, and what we can do about it.”
Contact Information:
Ed Karls (![]()
ekarls@braverangels.org)
734-678-4831
About Braver Angels:
Our country is more divided than ever, with too many of us isolated from those who hold
different views. This division damages our communities, disrupts our families, and stops us from
working together for the common good.
We believe our nation can survive and thrive for every American who contributes to the effort.
Where we go from here is up to us.
We envision an America where courageous citizenship is the honored norm, renewing civic
culture and building trust across political differences.
We inspire and equip Americans to practice courageous citizenship across political differences
through skill-building, convening, and collaborative action.
As individuals, we try to understand the other side’s point of view, even if we do not agree with
it. In our communities, we engage those we disagree with, looking for common ground and
ways to work together. In politics, we support principles that bring us together rather than divide
us.
We’re guided by the rule that Red and Blue leaders are equally represented at every level of
organizational guidance. Our members range from working class to affluent and come from
many backgrounds. Our constant striving is to be an organization reflective of the country we
seek to serve.
Website: https://braverangels.org/