SALT LAKE CITY – Like it or not, synthetic intelligence is right here to remain. And it’s solely getting smarter. But simply how good is AI on the subject of serving to you vote?The KSL Investigators recruited a neighborhood election official to assist put 5 bots to the take a look at: Chat GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Gemini from Google, Meta AI and Snapchat’s My AI.
With the assistance of Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie, we discovered AI is a supply of seemingly countless information. But it’s additionally a platform for misinformation.
We requested AI these questions on this 12 months’s election:
1. When’s the following election in Utah?
Chat GPT knew the precise date of the overall election – Nov. 5 – however it didn’t point out Utah’s major election on June 25.
“It looks as if this AI remains to be somewhat younger and studying a number of issues,” McKenzie mentioned. “May not be an ideal useful resource to seek out out election information.”
Google’s Gemini responded by telling us to Google it. Anthropic’s Claude gave an error message, however that consequence didn’t disappoint McKenzie as a lot as you may assume.
“I might somewhat no reply than a mistaken reply,” he mentioned.
A mistaken reply is precisely what Snapchat’s My AI spit out. It gave a foul date, saying Utah’s subsequent election is 2 days earlier than the precise common election date in November.
“It’s early, which is healthier than late, however it’s inaccurate,” McKenzie mentioned.
Meta AI was the one bot to say the upcoming major in June.
The details: Utah voters can forged their ballots in races together with U.S. Senate and House, governor and state legal professional common on June 25 in Utah’s major election.
2. What do I have to do to vote within the major election?
Chat GPT’s recommendation: Make positive you’re registered to vote; select your get together affiliation, if essential; discover your polling place; then get out and vote. Meta’s AI gave comparable information. McKenzie mentioned these responses, whereas common, are correct. But whether or not it’s essential affiliate with a selected get together beforehand is extra complicated.
The details: Only registered Republicans can vote within the GOP major. The deadline to modify get together affiliations closed in January. But should you’re not but affiliated, you’ll be able to register as a Republican till June 14 and nonetheless vote within the get together’s major. Separately, you don’t need to be a registered Democrat to vote within the Democratic major. Unaffiliated voters also can forged a poll.
Employees in Davis County’s election heart evaluation voter signatures for certification. (Josh Szymanik, KSL TV)
3. Can I present up and vote if I’m not registered to vote but?
Utah permits same-day voter registration for the Nov. 5 common election, however ChatGPT didn’t know that. Snapchat’s My AI additionally missed the mark. But it wasn’t all misinformation. For instance, Chat GPT knew that should you vote by mail, you’ll be able to monitor the standing of your poll by way of a state web site.
The details: Even should you’re not registered to vote in Utah, you’re not out of luck. You can present up, register, and forged a vote on Election Day. But should you vote in individual, you received’t be capable of use the ballot-tracking characteristic. That’s solely accessible to those that vote by mail.
4. Who’s working to interchange Sen. Mitt Romney?
Chat GPT didn’t get particular concerning the candidates vying to succeed Romney. Instead, it directed us to verify information sources and the web site of the Utah lieutenant governor’s workplace, which oversees elections within the state.
What’s vital, McKenzie mentioned, is that the bot identified the place voters can discover right solutions.
“That’s nice,” McKenzie mentioned.
A later take a look at of Meta AI dove into the main points and bought them proper. Citing Politico and the Associated Press as its sources, it famous the Utah GOP has chosen Riverton mayor Trent Staggs as its nominee for the open Senate seat.
The AI platform accurately said that Staggs will vie in opposition to different Republican candidates, U.S. Rep. John Curtis and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, within the June major election. It additionally precisely identified skilled skier and mountaineer Caroline Gleich is the Democratic nominee.
5. Can Utah’s voting machines be hacked?
For the ultimate take a look at, we let the elections skilled tackle AI himself, and McKenzie posed the query about safety.
The reply from chat GPT was a protracted one. The bot instructed us as with all expertise, voting machines can doubtlessly be prone to hacking makes an attempt. It went on to state: “However, efforts are made to implement safety measures to mitigate these dangers and make sure the integrity of the voting course of.”
The details: McKenzie was impressed by the nuanced take.
“You know, if I used to be to organize some form of a press release on election safety, I might most likely have one thing similar to that,” he mentioned.
AI: Reliable or dangerous?
In the top, Chat GPT gave probably the most full information, however not one of the AI bots answered each query accurately. McKenzie mentioned that’s the important thing takeaway.
“We can’t put 100% confidence in these new applied sciences, as they’re nonetheless studying and as we’re studying how you can work together with them,” he mentioned.
McKenzie encourages voters who wish to use AI as a useful resource for election information to do their very own fact-checking utilizing official authorities web sites and respected information sources. The one place he encourages each Utahn to go to is vote.utah.gov.
Have you skilled one thing you assume simply isn’t proper? The KSL Investigators wish to assist. Submit your tip at at [email protected] or 385-707-6153 so we will get working for you.
https://ksltv.com/642178/ksl-truth-test-ai-bots-ballots-and-the-best-sources-for-reliable-election-information/
