Opinion | Rethinking Political Polling in the Age of AI

In “We Could All Be Wrong About the Midterms” (op-ed, Sept. 24), Karl Rove asks whether conflicting political polls in Iowa, especially in the context of recent high-profile gaffes, mean “polling is so broken that most numbers are unreliable.” As the former CEO of the Harris Poll, I see reason for concern. I also see a clear opportunity to make the work better, specifically by carefully employing artificial intelligence.

AI can help pollsters spot fraudulent respondents, catch inconsistent or fabricated answers and see where a sample falls short while a survey is still in the field. It can help researchers reach a more representative mix of people, examine results faster and track changes in opinion more often. Used well, these tools give pollsters more chances to find and correct problems before a poll is published.

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