What happens when artificial intelligence tries to stand in for your political voice? Can a machine represent your values, your choices, your vote?
Washington and Lee senior Ignas Volcokas, Class of 2025 who is majoring in Computer Science and Economics and minoring in Poverty and Human Capability Studies, explored these questions in his honors thesis, “AI in the Voting Booth: Analysis of AI-driven Representation and the Public’s Response,” which he presented on April 10, 2025.
His research examines the intersection of machine learning, political identity, and democratic participation. His project combined predictive modeling and personal interviews to investigate the future of democracy in the age of artificial intelligence.