Super PAC, which helps Miami Mayor Francis Suárez run for the Republican presidential nomination, has launched an artificial intelligence chatbot that answers questions about him and how generative AI tools are being used in the 2024 presidential campaign. It was a new example of how
The bot, unveiled Wednesday by SOS America PAC, listens to a user’s question and matches it to a video answer, created by an AI-powered avatar that looks and sounds like Suarez.
“Hi, I’m AI Francis Suarez,” the bot introduces itself, moving its mouth in inhuman motions. “You’ve probably heard that my namesake, conservative Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, is running for president. I’m here to answer your questions about public policy, so how can I help?”
The tool utilizes VideoAsk, a product developed by software company Typeform, and advertises its use in recruitment and sales. According to the product’s website, customers can create “video funnels” that take visitors through different paths based on questions they ask, allowing users to “choose their own adventure.”
Chatbots don’t seem to answer users’ actual questions on the fly. Instead, it directs you to videos on the topic of Suarez’s platform.
For example, when you ask Mr. Suarez about his plans for immigration, the bot responds with a 55-second session on “Mayor Suarez’s Miami Model” discussing various topics such as “economic prosperity in Miami,” unemployment rates, job creation, murder rates, and homelessness. Start playing the video.
But when Suarez was asked if he would endorse Trump as the Republican candidate, the bot turned to a computer-generated caricature calling himself “AI Ron DeSantis.” The caricature, made to look like the Governor of Florida, said Suarez was interested in “saving America’s economy and helping police officers”, while DeSantis said it was “a good place for American families today.” “The single biggest threat” thinks “Mickey Mouse, yes Mickey Mouse, run for you.” I’m alive! “
Some questions will confuse the bot and display a “Sorry, I didn’t understand…” screen.
Chatbots join other examples of 2024 candidates using generative AI tools in new ways in their election campaigns.
Last month, the DeSantis campaign used artificial intelligence-generated imagery to publish a video on social media that showed former President Donald Trump hugging infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.
And in April, the Republican National Committee released a dystopian campaign ad intended to show the future if President Joe Biden is reelected, created entirely with AI-generated imagery. It was what was done.
Artificial intelligence has been used for political activism before, but AI tools have improved dramatically in recent years, making it faster, cheaper, and easier to create an image, video, or block of text from scratch. became.
While these tools can streamline tedious tasks and create innovative advertising campaigns, they are also used to mass-produce harmful and credible misinformation aimed at influencing elections. experts warn.
SOS America PAC and Typeform did not immediately respond to inquiries seeking more information about Suarez’s chatbot.
