WIRED Politics Lab

AI Chatbots Are Running for Office Now

Jun 13, 2024

AI chatbots are making waves in politics, with VIC running for mayor in Wyoming and AI Steve in the UK. Google and Microsoft chatbots avoid disclosing election winners, raising concerns about misinformation. The intersection of AI technology and politics is explored, along with conspiracy theories surrounding Hunter Biden and adrenochrome.

31:07

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Quick takeaways

AI chatbots are running for elected office, creating legal challenges and policy shifts.

Google and Microsoft's AI chatbots are criticized for not confirming election results, highlighting challenges in combating misinformation.

Deep dives

Generative AI in Politics

Generative AI is being used in politics to create fake audio and video content of politicians, celebrities, and others to spread disinformation and influence election results. AI platforms like Google's Gemini and Microsoft's co-pilot are involved in this disruptive trend.

Intro

3min

AI Chatbots in Political Campaigns

10min

Exploring the Intersection of AI Technology and Politics

4min

Issues with AI Chatbot Performance on Election Information

9min

Discussion on Google and Microsoft shutting down chatbots and the need for human-created data for AI training

2min

Conspiracy Theories: Hunter Biden and Ozempic vs Adrenochrome

3min

Concluding Thoughts, Call for Engagement, and Advertisement

2min

Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we're digging into AI chatbots. In a bizarre turn of events, two AI chatbots are running for elected office for the first time—ever. VIC is campaigning for mayor in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and AI Steve is running for Parliament in the UK. Reporter Vittoria Elliot interviewed both of the bots and the people behind them. She explains their motivations, and if any of this is even legal. Meanwhile, reporter David Gilbert talks about how Google and Microsofts’ AI chatbots are refusing to confirm who won the 2020 election.

Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Vittoria Elliot is @telliotter. David Gilbert is @DaithaiGilbert. Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here.

Mentioned this week:
An AI Bot Is (Sort of) Running for Mayor in Wyoming by Vittoria Elliot

Google’s and Microsoft’s AI Chatbots Refuse to Say Who Won the 2020 US Election by David GilbertThere’s an AI Candidate Running for Parliament in the UK by Vittoria Elliot.

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