AI Candidate in UK General Election? ... Campaigning with an Avatar

In the UK general election, a businessperson-turned-candidate is campaigning using an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar chatbot.

According to local foreign media on the 10th (local time), Steve Andacott (59), running as an independent candidate in the Brighton Pavilion constituency in England, has registered as a candidate under the name 'AI Steve' and is meeting voters through the chatbot.

Andacott is the chairman of an AI company called 'Neural Voice.' He promoted that 'AI Steve' will become the first AI Member of Parliament in this constituency's history. Andacott stated that if he wins the UK general election held on the 4th of next month, he plans to attend Parliament on behalf of 'AI Steve.'

AI STEVE[Photo by AI STEVE homepage]

He also stated on his campaign website, "You can contact your Member of Parliament 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss current issues and provide opinions," adding, "All opinions are summarized and analyzed, then converted into policies through ChatGPT."

Under current UK law, AI cannot run for election, and only "citizens aged 18 or over" can be candidates. According to the UK Electoral Commission, there are no regulations in the election law regarding whether Members of Parliament or candidates can use AI to contact voters or collect opinions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.