An AI chatbot is running for mayor in Wyoming
Image: Rod Miller
Yesterday, primary voters in Wyoming’s capital of Cheyenne were faced with a first-of-its-kind decision: should they elect a candidate who wants to use an AI chatbot to run the local government?
The candidate in question – 42-year-old librarian Victor Miller – is running for mayor of Cheyenne alongside a customized ChatGPT bot named VIC, whom Miller trained on local city ordinances and related documents.
- Miller, who has no prior political experience, says VIC would be doing 100% “of the decision-making completely on its own” if elected as mayor. According to AI experts, it marks the first such campaign pledge for any office in US history.
His pitch is simple: Miller argues that VIC would make a better mayor than any human, since it’s more capable of processing vast amounts of data and making unbiased decisions across a wide range of issues. In public appearances for his campaign, Miller has worn a portable Bluetooth speaker around his neck with a built-in microphone, which allows VIC to interact with voters and respond to their questions.
But Miller’s campaign has faced significant pushback. Earlier this summer, OpenAI shut down Miller’s ChatGPT account due to its policies against using products for political campaigning – but Miller quickly made a second version of VIC to replace the first bot who was banned.
- Wyoming’s top elections official has also pushed back against Miller’s campaign, arguing VIC should be disqualified because only registered voters can run for local or statewide elections. However, like OpenAI, his effort to derail Miller’s campaign was unsuccessful.
Big picture: Miller and VIC’s mayoral campaign stands little chance of winning, according to local officials and residents (he only garnered ~3% of the vote in yesterday's primary). But experts say the situation illustrates how AI is developing more quickly than efforts to regulate it – and also highlights the ease with which AI has seeped into politics ahead of the November election.
đź“Š Flash poll: In your opinion, should political candidates who vow to let AI do their jobs be allowed to run for office?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Americans must remain on guard for foreign election interference campaigns that use AI tools, especially given the recent confirmation that both Russia and Iran are employing such tactics in the run-up to November’s election.
- Others contend that the federal government needs to step up to protect Americans from blatant AI-fueled lies that they can't easily detect, which have grown increasingly common across social media ahead of the upcoming election.
- “From Iran and Russia, the disinformation is now. The target is America.” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “Public deserves to be warned if political ads are AI generated fakes” –Mankato Free Press Editorial Board
- “The Problem Is Not A.I. It’s the Disbelief Created by Trump.” –Zeynep Tufekci, NY Times
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that it’s highly alarming how easily a bad actor can use AI tools to influence online opinion and sway US elections for an astonishingly low price, and this ability could easily play a large role in the 2024 election.
- Others contend that AI is playing an increasingly pivotal role in enhancing personal liberty by illuminating the often opaque processes of government and law, and fostering a society of informed, aware, and thus more empowered citizens.
- “How I Built an AI-Powered, Self-Running Propaganda Machine for $105” –Jack Brewster, WSJ
- “Here's how AI will empower citizens and enhance liberty” –Thomas Koulopoulos, Fox News
- “Americans are too gullible to withstand political propaganda” –Jay Evensen, Deseret
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