The New Mexico Supreme Court last week upheld new boundaries of congressional districts that New Mexico’s Democratic legislative majority implemented in 2021. The decision laid to rest whether or not the newly drawn districts would shape the political landscape until 2031 when the next redistricting process occurs. 

Republican plaintiffs sued over the new congressional districts, saying they were gerrymandered to ensure a Republican could no longer win southern New Mexico’s congressional seat and that the map therefore violated the New Mexico constitution. 

State District Judge Fred Van Soelen subsequently ruled that, yes, Democrats did gerrymander the districts, making it easier for a Democrat to win that southern seat. But, he wrote, it didn’t violate the constitution because it wasn’t egregious. Van Soelen wasn’t convinced there was no chance a Republican could win the seat. Indeed, in 2022, the first time congressional elections were held using the new maps, a Democrat won the seat by a very slim margin. 

Advocates say the public doesn’t have to put up with partisan map-making at all. A coalition of groups are pushing lawmakers to let voters decide in 2024 if an independent redistricting commission should make the final decision about how political districts are drawn. One proposal envisions nine commissioners who reflect the demographics of the state, drawn from a random selection process led by the Secretary of State. They are also pushing lawmakers to fund a task force to study how to improve redistricting at the county level. 

But advocates face intense opposition from lawmakers, who give varied arguments for reserving redistricting power for themselves. One argument: they are the valid representatives of the public for such consequential work. Another is that lawmakers should have some say, because the public deserves the opportunity to help shape districts by holding them accountable at the end of the day. 

In 2020, New Mexico did have an independent redistricting committee that created several versions of maps for lawmakers to consider after conducting public outreach across the state. Its maps weren’t binding but many advocates and lawmakers said they provided a starting point for lawmakers, making the process better.

On another topic, let’s talk about artificial intelligence. 

If you’re like me, you’ve long benefited from AI tools, maybe without realizing it. For instance, I’ve used an online software program for years that simultaneously produces a transcript as it records meetings. The transcript requires correcting, but it’s quite helpful. Sometimes, to prevent fraud, my bank won’t let me use my debit card if I’m outside my state of residence until I confirm that it is indeed me using the card. These systems rely on rules related to data recognition.

Then, about a year ago, a company named OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT, a program using a new technology referred to as generative AI.  Since then, more companies have launched generative AI applications. These are systems fed the masses of data uploaded to the internet over the past almost three decades – like books and audio recordings – and that can draw on the patterns of those inputs to create something new – like an essay, a screenplay, or a voice-over for an advertisement that sounds like a famous person. Central concerns of the recent Hollywood actor and writer strikes were the possibility that human jobs in those industries will decline due to the use of generative AI. 

An obvious application of generative AI is the production of journalism, with profound implications given the essential role journalism plays in our democracy. The threat that generative AI could be used nefariously to hoodwink the public is real. But also, journalism requires fact-checking and proper attribution. It’s hard to envision ever relying on AI programs for those functions without error. 

New Mexico In Depth isn’t using AI to produce stories, while watching developments closely, exploring how it might be helpful while looking for pitfalls. But it’s clear we are all being swept along into a new era of generative AI, in small ways we might not even register.

For instance, the other day I sold a few things on an online marketplace, something I’m glad I can do but that is always a chore. Right away, I noticed the marketplace company recently incorporated an AI tool that could write the text of the listing based on one short prompt by me. After a long day of writing, I didn’t want to write more. Here was a tool that could actually generate complete descriptive sentences and paragraphs. I used it.  Did some slight editing. And it was great. 

In the past year, a technological arms race of sorts has opened up among big tech companies and players, and governments are scrambling to understand the ramifications. Some people speak of the future in apocalyptic terms, as though one day AI systems will become so advanced that they develop their own intelligence and transcend human control.

Those of us who remember the 1990s know well how the internet transformed the world that we live in. Are we on the cusp of the next transformation? Will it be as profound as the advent of the internet?

I’d like to hear your thoughts. How is AI showing up in your life? What do you think about the future of AI? What are your concerns? Please be in touch: marjorie@nmindepth.com