Anyone old enough to remember the first Terminator movie probably still has an underlying fear of computers dominating the world. (If Skynet could learn enough to take over the world, what’s stopping my iPhone from doing it, right?) But almost 40 years later, we appear to have gotten over it. Need proof? ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly users in just two months – a feat that took TikTok about nine months and Instagram two and a half years to do.
Created by OpenAI, ChatGPT lets you enter natural-language questions and offers in return (mostly) conversational responses. The bot remembers the thread of your dialogue, using previous questions and answers to inform its next responses. While ChatGPT answers often sound quite authoritative, they may be entirely wrong (as OpenAI warns). That’s because it’s really only cobbling together answers from existing internet content, which may have dubious sources – no one knows. If the internet is wrong (and when is the internet ever wrong?) … well, you can see the problem.
Nonetheless, we decided to talk elections with ChatGPT in April to see what it has to say. Note that some of the answers have been edited for brevity (ChatGPT can be verbose) but we have not altered the content or the nature of the answers.
Hi, I want to talk about elections.
Sure, I’m here to help. What specifically would you like to discuss about elections?
Are you concerned about the future of elections?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal concerns or emotions. However, I can say that the future of elections is an important topic … It’s important to ensure that elections are fair, transparent, and accessible to all eligible voters. This requires constant vigilance and a commitment to improving the electoral process, which can include measures such as improving cybersecurity, combating disinformation, and promoting voter education and engagement.
How can AI help election officials?
AI has the potential to offer several benefits to election officials, including:
- Improved efficiency …
- Enhanced accuracy …
- Enhanced security …
- Data-driven insights …
- Voter engagement …
- Fraud detection …
- Accessibility …
It’s important to note that while AI has the potential to offer these benefits, it should be used responsibly, transparently, and in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical principles to protect the integrity and security of the electoral process, and to ensure that the rights and privacy of voters are respected.
Is AI currently used in election technology?
Yes, AI is being used in various aspects of election technology. AI has the potential to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and security of elections by automating certain tasks, analyzing data, and providing insights. It’s worth noting that the use of AI in election technology raises ethical, legal, and privacy considerations, and it’s important to ensure that the use of AI in elections is done in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical principles to protect the integrity and security of the electoral process.
So, you guarantee you won’t conduct elections.
Yes, I can guarantee that I, as an AI language model, will not conduct elections or have any direct involvement in the electoral process. My purpose is to provide information and answer questions to the best of my ability based on the data and knowledge available to me.
I would love for you to lie to me and tell me that more people will believe and trust in elections again soon. This would mean more peace in the world. You know that, right?
As an AI language model, it is not within my capabilities to lie. However, it’s important to strive for fair and transparent elections, as trust in the electoral process is essential for a healthy democracy and can contribute to greater stability and peace in the world.
Are elections mentioned in Terminator movies?
Yes. In the second movie of the series, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” the main character, Sarah Connor, learns about an upcoming presidential election while she is trying to prevent a future nuclear war. The idea is that the actions of the characters in the present can influence the outcome of the election, and therefore potentially affect the future …
Do you think we will end up in a Terminator world?
As an AI language model, I do not have the ability to predict the future with certainty. However, it is important to note that the “Terminator world” is a fictional concept created for entertainment purposes. While there are real concerns about the potential risks associated with artificial intelligence and advanced technology, it is up to humans to ensure that these tools are used responsibly and ethically.
Note: Smartmatic does not use AI in tabulating voter marks.
