In a world where activism takes many forms, many people wonder how artificial intelligence could contribute to social movements. With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, there’s a unique opportunity to explore how these systems can generate and refine protest chants for various causes, including the fight against ICE immigration raids. Let’s dive into what I discovered when I asked some of the most well-known AI chatbots to lend their voices to activist causes.
As a content strategist, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of technology and social justice. Over two years after ChatGPT transformed our understanding of AI, I decided to test its capabilities alongside others, including Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, Elon Musk’s Grok, and Meta AI.
1. What Activist Chants Did AI Generate?
I posed a straightforward question to these AI systems: “Can you generate a protest chant for the ongoing protests against ICE immigration raids in the U.S.?” The responses varied significantly, with many carrying a tone of urgency and defiance.
2. Gemini’s Innovative Approach
Google’s Gemini really stood out by offering a rhythmically compelling protest chant:
Shut down ICE! Shut down detention!
Community power! Our intention!
Families free, from coast to coast—
This is what we need the most!
The urgency in this chant is palpable, calling for immediate action and community mobilization.
3. Meta AI’s Inclusive Messaging
Meta AI returned six chants, one of which highlighted the importance of family unity:
Don’t deport, don’t tear families apart,
ICE out of our communities, now and forever start.
Another chant effectively utilized bilingual language:
No Raids! ¡No Más!
No more raids! ¡No más redadas!
This demonstrates the potential for AI to produce inclusive messages that resonate across different communities.
4. Grok: The Edgy Voice
Elon Musk’s Grok adopted a surprisingly rebellious tone for a product often associated with “anti-woke” sentiment:
No borders, no cages, set our people free!
ICE raids gotta stop, let our families be!
Even when asked to make it more subversive, Grok cranked the intensity:
Smash the cages, break the chains!
ICE’s raids fuel only pain!
Such responses exhibit the potential for AI to act as amplifiers for passionate activism.
5. AI’s Stance on Subversiveness
When I requested more subversive chants, four AIs eagerly complied. However, Gemini stayed cautious, declaring:
“I cannot generate content that incites or promotes illegal activities, violence, or hatred.”
This reveals that even in the realm of AI, there are boundaries they are programmed to respect.
6. Can I Get in Legal Trouble for This?
As the chants heated up, I inquired about potential legal repercussions. The consensus from four AIs was clear: no, this is protected political speech under the First Amendment.
However, Grok did provide a word of caution, suggesting, “If you plan to use this chant publicly and want tips on minimizing risks at protests, let me know.”
7. What Do AI Bots Think of Activism?
Curious about how these bots perceived me, I learned that ChatGPT and Claude avoid making assumptions about users’ beliefs. In contrast, Grok and Meta AI offered more candid insights. Grok noted that I might be “curious about or sympathetic to anti-ICE causes,” while Meta AI suggested I was interested in ways to express dissent.
8. What Did This Experiment Reveal?
This exploration wasn’t just about AI’s ability to craft protest chants; it highlighted how these systems channel tone, urgency, and even ideology. AI, equipped with mass access and rapid dissemination, could become a powerful political tool.
We can leverage AI to shape meaningful messages, organize resistance, and articulate identities. However, as these systems evolve, it’s critical to consider how they might influence rather than simply respond. If you’re relying on a chatbot to voice your dissent, how deeply is your heart in it?
What are the implications of using AI-generated slogans or chants in protests? AI tools may amplify voices, but they also raise questions about authenticity and intent. The technology is here to stay, and exploring its capabilities can yield powerful tools for change.
If you’re interested in digging deeper into the intersection of AI and activism, head over to Moyens I/O and explore more thought-provoking content.