The leader of the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), Yuichiro Tamaki, has been forced to shut down his policies website “AI Yuichiro” less than a month after its launch. The website used ChatGPT, a generative-AI chatbot, to respond to user questions in a conversational manner.
In the lead-up to the Tokyo gubernatorial election held in July, an AI-generated news anchor called “AI Yuriko” gained attention for presenting the policies of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who was reelected for a third term.
Inspired by this, Tamaki created the AI Yuichiro website to promote the DPFP and gain supporters. However, sources revealed that he was informed by OpenAI Inc., the operator of the chatbot, that using ChatGPT for a political campaign would violate their terms and conditions.
The website had garnered significant interest, with more than 100,000 questions asked since its launch on July 8. Users would ask questions, and the AI would respond in a manner that resembled Tamaki’s own style. For instance, when asked about the party’s stance on high fuel prices, the AI would reply with answers such as “we will support the livelihoods of people.”
Unfortunately, on August 2nd OpenAI suspended access to ChatGPT for political campaigns. However,Tamaki is considering creating another similar website using different AI technology in future.
This incident highlights how AI is increasingly present and influential in politics. As politicians explore ways to engage with voters and promote their policies through advancing AI technology concerns arise regarding accurate information dissemination and potential manipulation.
Some believe that AI-generated content can enhance transparency and accessibility in politics by facilitating greater interaction between politicians and citizens through personalized responses from candidates or representations of politicians created by AIs.
On contrary critics argue that AI-powered chatbots may not accurately represent politicians’ views or positions raising concerns about misinformation or manipulation of public opinion through these responses.Critics emphasize ensuring accuracy & unbiased information provision from these bots
The suspension of “AI Yuichiro” demonstrates need for clear guidelines & regulations regarding use of AI in political campaigns.Ethical frameworks & safeguards are crucial as we continue evolving our use of this technology while maintaining integrity & transparency
