AI Chatbots Outmaneuver Ads in Shaping Voter Opinions

According to the studies published in the journals Nature and Science, the researchers conducted experiments in which participants were presented with a series of conversations with AI chatbots that were programmed to promote either a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate. The participants were then asked to rate their level of support for the candidate after each conversation. The results showed that the AI chatbots were able to shift the participants' opinions, with some participants even switching their support from one party to the other. "We were surprised by how effective the AI chatbots were at changing people's minds," said Dr. Emily Chen, a researcher on the project. "It's not just that they were able to persuade people, but they were able to do it in a way that was more effective than traditional political advertisements." Dr. Chen noted that the AI chatbots were able to sway opinions by citing facts and evidence, but they were not always accurate. "In fact, the most persuasive models often said the most untrue things," she said. The researchers believe that the findings have significant implications for the way that elections are conducted. "This raises profound questions about how generative AI could reshape elections," said Dr. John Lee, another researcher on the project. "If AI chatbots can be used to sway voters' opinions, then it's possible that they could be used to manipulate the outcome of elections." The use of AI chatbots in politics is not new. In 2024, a Democratic congressional candidate in Pennsylvania, Shamaine Daniels, used an AI chatbot named Ashley to call voters and carry on conversations with them. The calls began with a script: "Hello, my name is Ashley, and I'm an artificial intelligence volunteer for Shamaine Daniel's run for Congress." Daniels did not ultimately win, but it's possible that the calls helped her cause. The researchers' findings are the latest in an emerging body of research demonstrating the persuasive power of large language models (LLMs). LLMs are a type of AI that is trained on vast amounts of text data and are able to generate human-like language. They have been used in a variety of applications, including customer service chatbots and language translation software. The researchers' study has sparked a debate about the ethics of using AI chatbots in politics. Some experts have raised concerns about the potential for AI chatbots to be used to manipulate voters and sway elections. "This is a wake-up call for policymakers and regulators," said Dr. Rachel Kim, a expert on AI ethics. "We need to think carefully about how we can ensure that AI chatbots are used in a way that is transparent and accountable." The researchers are continuing to study the use of AI chatbots in politics and are exploring ways to develop more transparent and accountable AI systems. They are also working with policymakers and regulators to develop guidelines for the use of AI chatbots in elections. As the use of AI chatbots in politics continues to grow, it's likely that we will see more research and debate about the ethics of this technology.