In a recent online panel discussion, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and 2024 presidential candidate, made a surprising admission about his susceptibility to online misinformation. During a conversation on the future of artificial intelligence (AI), Kennedy confessed that he frequently falls for manipulated content, often forwarding fake information to his children, who then have to correct him. Despite this admission, Kennedy’s campaign continues to emphasize the importance of technology and AI, although not without controversy.
A Controversial Host for the AI Panel
The panel, which was intended to discuss the “perils and promise of AI,” was moderated by Ian Carroll, a self-styled journalist with a history of antisemitic statements. Carroll’s selection as the moderator has raised eyebrows, given his controversial background. Carroll, who has no known expertise in AI, introduced himself as “just a regular guy who likes to ask questions,” and his involvement appears to align with the Kennedy campaign’s strategy of appealing to a young, male, and highly online audience.
Carroll’s role in the panel was primarily to ask questions of the participants, which included Kennedy, his running mate Nicole Shanahan, Gmail creator Paul Buchheit, and former NASA scientist Creon Levit. While the panelists expressed a general sense of excitement and caution about AI’s potential, the discussion did not offer much in the way of new insights. Kennedy, despite admitting his vulnerability to AI-enabled misinformation, downplayed broader concerns about the technology’s potential to mislead the public.
Concerns About AI and Misinformation
Throughout the panel, Shanahan speculated about the potential dangers of AI, suggesting that it could be used for “mind control” and to “manipulate us in very powerful ways.” Kennedy echoed some of these concerns, warning that AI could ultimately serve the “ultimate ambition of every totalitarian regime.” However, he also expressed optimism about AI’s potential in his central issue, vaccines. Kennedy mused about using AI to conduct what he described as “real studies” on vaccines, speculating that algorithms could uncover valuable insights from databases that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allegedly keeps closed to the public.
Shanahan, on the other hand, spoke about how she had “run some models” on Kennedy’s candidacy, suggesting that without what she described as interference, they would win the election. This kind of speculative thinking has become a hallmark of the Kennedy campaign’s approach to technology, blending a mix of skepticism and hopeful futurism.
Ian Carroll’s involvement in the panel has drawn significant criticism, particularly given his history of making antisemitic statements. As highlighted by the publication *Jewish Insider*, Carroll has a long track record of espousing conspiracy theories related to Jewish people. Just weeks before the panel, Carroll took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that the U.S. is “controlled by an international criminal organization that grew out of the Jewish mob and now hides in modern Zionism behind cries of ‘antisemitism.’”
Carroll has also questioned the accuracy of the Holocaust’s death toll and made other inflammatory remarks. For instance, he speculated about the marriages of Shanahan, who has been married to three Jewish men, promising to “dig into the matter.” Despite these statements, Carroll has continued to have a platform, including hosting Shanahan on his podcast prior to the AI panel.
While Carroll has been vocal about his conspiracies concerning Jewish influence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has largely avoided discussing issues related to Israel and Gaza in recent months. In March, during an interview with *Reuters*, Kennedy declared his strong support for Israel, describing it as a “moral nation.” He has since reiterated that he does not support a ceasefire in Gaza, maintaining his stance even as the conflict has escalated.
Kennedy’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding Carroll’s role in the panel or his controversial statements. The choice of Carroll as a moderator and the content of the discussion itself reflect the Kennedy campaign’s unconventional approach to issues of technology and politics, blending fringe figures with mainstream concerns.
The AI panel hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign has brought to light several contentious issues. Kennedy’s admission of being misled by online misinformation, coupled with the decision to involve a figure like Ian Carroll, underscores the campaign’s willingness to court controversy as it seeks to engage a specific audience. As the 2024 election approaches, Kennedy’s interactions with technology and his campaign’s embrace of fringe voices will likely continue to spark debate and scrutiny.
