THE RISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL INFLUENCE IN PAKISTAN’S DEMOCRATIC LANDSCAPE

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing political communication by changing the way citizens experience, assess, and disseminate political information. In this study, the relationships between AI-generated political content, algorithmic exposure, AI-generated misinformation, political trust, polarization, and democratic participation in Pakistan have been explored.The study draws on the theories of public sphere of Habermas and network society of Castells and constructs an integrated model in which the direct effect of AI mediated political exposure on democratic participation is mediated by political trust and polarization, and is moderated by digital and AI literacy. The number of participants in quantitative cross sectional survey is around 500 social media users in Pakistan aged 18 years and above. Descriptive statistics, reliability test, correlation analysis, regression analysis, mediation analysis, moderation analysis and PLS-SEM will be used in data analysis. The Study provides theoretical, empirical and policy insights on AI governance, digital literacy and electoral integrity.