As digital media consumption continues to skyrocket, reaching voters via traditional communication methods has become increasingly difficult. A 2023 Pew Research study found that 56% of adults receive news from digital devices, with only 32% getting news from television. Another recent survey by Podcastle found that 28% of Americans are consuming less political media during the 2024 political cycle than in the last election. 

This brings us to the latest installment of our Spotlighting Challenges Series, focused on voters' changing media consumption habits with Mike Schneider and Carahna Batiste of Bully Pulpit International. We discuss how campaigns can meet this moment with relevant content, influencer marketing, and building authentic digital relationships with voters. 

Today our good friends at Zinc Labs released their Quick Start AI Guidelines for Democratic Campaigns, which HGL is proud to partner on alongside DigiDems and Cooperative Impact Lab. If you've been looking for how to get started on using AI responsibly, this is an essential resource with key guardrails and low-lift experiments to do so. 

HGL has also been supporting key campaigns and progressive organizations in selecting their political tech stacks — reach out if we can help your organization with yours. Hope to see you at our upcoming AI Open Mic on May 9th on AI for fundraising!

Today the Quick-Start AI Guidelines for Democratic Campaigns was released, a resource produced by Zinc Labs, in partnership with DigiDems, Cooperative Impact Lab, and Higher Ground Labs. If you’re interested in understanding necessary guardrails that will help campaigns get the most from generative AI while mitigating risks; practical steps for how to use AI for the long haul; and low-investment, high-value uses of generative AI that campaigns can use today — this free guide is for you. 

Our newest installment of our Spotlighting Challenges Series dove into the challenge of reaching voters in the current media landscape, highlighting the rise of digital consumption and new advertising forms like influencer marketing. Featuring interviews with Mike Schneider and Carahna Batiste, we discuss strategies that engage first-time voters, tackle misinformation, and meet voters where they are.

Co-hosted by HGL’s Progressive AI Lab, Analyst Institute, Cooperative Impact Lab, and Research Collaborative, our next AI Open Mic focused on Fundraising will be on Thursday, May 9 from 2-3pm ET. The event is an opportunity for progressive leaders to see applications of fundraising AI initiatives out in the field and ask questions on the intersection of AI and fundraising.

In April’s AI Open Mic on Organizational and Operational Usage, we covered organizational policies, AI policy and usage, research automation, exploring online narratives about and by communities, and more. Catch the recording here if you missed it.

Interested in presenting a case study at the May AI Open Mic or a future one? Reach out to [email protected].

HGL is supporting our friends at Cooperative Impact Lab for the first AI for Organizing & Campaigns Hackathon on May 31st in San Francisco. This event will gather developers, designers, organizers, and campaigners to explore innovative uses of generative AI. Participants will spend the day working in teams to address problems faced by campaigns and organizations, culminating in a public showcase & happy hour. CIL is currently recruiting participants, challenge statements, and advisors for the event. Learn more & RSVP here.
 

Our Founder & Managing Partner Betsy Hoover and VP of Program & Partnerships Leah Bae helped kick off the Arena Summit as panelists in the opening panel, Generative AI: Opportunities, Risks, and the New Political Frontier. We also led a workshop on the Political Tech Landscape and the tools available within it. Thanks to the organizers and ~500 Arena Academy participants who showed up for a better democracy. Check out the AI resources shared at the panel here.

Check out 40+ political tech job openings on the HGL Portfolio Jobs Board. Apply to be the Digital Strategist at Social Currant, Client Success Support Specialist at Civitech, Senior Mobilization Events Manager at Relentless, Senior QA Analyst at New/Mode, and more.