- Title: Could this AI avatar be elected to the UK parliament?
- Date: 19th June 2024
- Summary: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UK (JUNE 17, 2024) (Reuters) ENTRANCE TO BRIGHTON PIER / STEVE ENDACOTT POSING WITH CARDBOARD CUTOUT OF 'AI STEVE' STEVE ENDACOTT EXPLAINING 'AI STEVE' CONCEPT ENDACOTT / AVATAR VARIOUS OF ENDACOTT APPROACHING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH CAMPAIGN LEAFLETS
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2024 06:53
- Keywords: AI AI Steve AI member of parliament Airtificial intelligence Steve Endacott general election
- Location: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UK / INTERNET
- City: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UK / INTERNET
- Country: UK
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001170718062024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Are you worried about AI taking over your job? You can write to your local MP, who might just be an AI too.
Businessman Steve Endacott is amongst hundreds of candidates running in the July 4 national election in Britain to become a member of parliament (MP).
Here's his hook: the face on the campaign leaflet is an AI generated avatar of the 59-year old, not the man himself.
And if his bid succeeds, it would give the world its first AI lawmaker.
Stood next to a human-size cutout of "AI Steve", Endacott held a mobile phone to curious passersby outside the historic Brighton pier at the southern English seaside town, encouraging them to give the technology a try.
The avatar engages real-time with locals on topics ranging from LGBTQ rights and housing, to bin collection and immigration. It then puts forth policy ideas before asking them for their suggestions.
Charity worker Eona Johnston, 23, from Brighton is open to AI Steve, but wants to see proof about its efficiency and trustworthiness.
"We're using AI in so many (areas), at work, social interactions, why don't we put it in politics? But how would we do it. We shouldn't be closed off to the idea," she said.
Endacott, whose Neural Voice company powers his AI alter ego, said his frustration with "standard politics" made him decide to run as an independent for the Brighton Pavilion seat, which is expected to be retained by the Green Party.
He said the goal was to showcase the technology's ability in giving voters more access to their parliamentary representatives: "We want democracy reformed, we want people connected to their MPs, because current system is broken and not working."
In his second outing after losing in a local council election in 2022, Endacott said the AI co-pilot would talk to voters around the clock and formulate policies, which would then be put forward to a group of 500 validators for vetting.
"Even when a policy is created, it's got to get past the validators ... Nobody could easily hack the validators," he told Reuters.
When asked about AI Steve, the Electoral Commission stated that the MP would be the elected candidate, not "any AI generated application they choose to use."
Most locals appeared reluctant to vote for an AI candidate just yet, but viewed Endacott's pursuit as an important conversation to be had: the use of AI in politics.
While AI has been in use for decades, the rapid growth of ChatGPT since its launch in 2022 has thrust the technology into the mainstream, with many influential world figures, from Pope Francis to Elon Musk, advocating for tighter oversight.
Britain has been deeply divided in the run up to and since Brexit, with public trust and confidence in government at record lows and the governing Conservatives potentially facing an "electoral extinction."
Not everyone has taken kindly to AI Steve either, with death threats being directed at the technology.
"We just said: if you're big enough, see if you can find the plug," said a chuckling Endacott, who describes himself as someone from a working-class background that has made money.
Jim Cheek, a 37-year-old accountant from Brighton, pointed out that an MP must be adept at public speaking as they have to make a case on behalf of their constituents in parliament, something that an AI lawmaker cannot do.
"I think an AI is only a small part of what makes a good MP or a bad MP so I would suggest perhaps it is a bit of a gimmick," Cheek said.
Another resident, Andy Clawson, 42, said: "AI and politicians have the one thing in common ... they can’t be trusted."
(Production: Muvija Murugaiyan / Stuart McDill) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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