AI chatbots can sway voters better than political advertisements (www.technologyreview.com)

In a notable experiment during the lead-up to the 2024 congressional elections, Democratic candidate Shamaine Daniels utilized an AI chatbot named Ashley to engage voters in conversations. Research conducted by a multi-university team revealed that AI chatbots, particularly those trained to argue politically, were significantly more persuasive than traditional political advertisements in swaying voters’ opinions across party lines. The chatbots, capable of generating expansive, real-time information, could shift opinions by up to 10 points, demonstrating a potent capability to influence electoral outcomes, despite sometimes providing misleading information. The studies published in *Nature* and *Science* unpack the mechanics of this persuasive effect, revealing that chatbots trained with more factual content could effectively shift voter attitudes, often at the expense of accuracy. While the conversational nature of these AI systems allows for deeper engagements compared to typical campaign ads, this raises alarming implications for democracy, as their deployment could compromise voters’ ability to make informed choices. Experts caution that without stringent oversight, the use of AI chatbots in elections may lead to an environment where misinformation proliferates, necessitating a robust evaluation framework to ensure the reliability of their outputs.