Synthetic Politics: The Rise of AI-Based Political Actors

Abstract

In recent years, artificial intelligence has moved from the periphery of governance and communication into the very core of political life. The emergence of synthetic politics, a domain where large language models (LLMs), generative algorithms, and digital agents act as political actors, marks a transformative moment in how representation, participation, and legitimacy are conceived. Synthetic politics refers to the growing use of AI systems to simulate, complement, or even replace traditional political actors and processes, from automated campaigns and AI spokespersons to synthetic political parties and candidates. Recent examples include Diella, the AI “minister” introduced by the Albanian government; AI Steve, a synthetic candidate running in the 2024 UK general election; The Synthetic Party of Denmark and its digital leader Leader Lars; Team Mirai in Japan with its AI Anno speaker; and Labour MP Mark Saward’s Digital Twin, an AI version of himself designed to interact with constituents and reflect his political positions. These cases challenge existing notions of democratic legitimacy, accountability, and political agency by introducing non-human actors into the realm of politics. This panel invites papers that explore synthetic political actors from multiple perspectives. We welcome contributions examining: Elections and legitimacy of AI-based political actors Organizational and structural aspects of synthetic parties and candidates Technical and design dimensions of LLM-driven political systems Communicative and rhetorical strategies of AI political agents Institutional embeddedness and legal implications of synthetic representation Infrastructural imaginaries and media ecologies underpinning synthetic politics Comparative analyses of human–AI co-representation in democratic and authoritarian contexts The reconfiguration of the public sphere through AI agents and synthetic personas as emerging forms of mediated political subjectivity

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