Candidate Uses AI Version of Self in British Election
2024-06-23
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1When voters go to the polls in Brighton, England on July 4, they will get the chance to elect what some people are calling the first artificial intelligence (AI) lawmaker.
2Businessman Steve Endacott is running to represent his area as a member of Britain's Parliament.
3During his campaign, he has used AI tools to present voters with an electronic version of himself called "AI Steve."
4The electronic image is known as an avatar.
5Voters can communicate with AI Steve through a website powered by Neural Voice, an AI company.
6Endacott is the company's chairman.
7Endacott, aged 59, said his idea for the AI avatar came after he became unhappy with the way "standard politics" in his area operate.
8So he decided to run for office in a different way.
9The AI system permits people to ask questions and offer ideas to AI Steve.
10The real Endacott can look at these ideas and show them to experts and, if elected, to other members of Parliament.
11Some of the issues brought to the attention of AI Steve so far include waste collection, immigration, housing, and LGBTQ rights.
12Endacott bases the process on a research method called crowdsourcing.
13That means collecting ideas from large numbers of people to reach better solutions to problems.
14Endacott told Reuters news agency he thinks using AI to gather more ideas from people supports democracy.
15He thinks this will help politicians know more about what people want and need.
16He added that he hopes to get more politicians to use AI in the same way.
17"We're launching a party, we're going to be recruiting more AI candidates across the country after this election," Endacott said.
18"We see this as the...building block for something big and something democratic," he added.
19Aid worker Eona Johnston, aged 23, agreed with Endacott after meeting him.
20"We're using AI in so many (areas), at work, social interactions, why don't we put it in politics? It might change the way we live," she said.
21However, not all locals think using AI will improve government policies.
22"AI and politicians have one thing in common," local resident Andy Clawson, aged 42, said.
23"They can't be trusted."
24Endacott is a member the political party Smarter U.K.
25But he decided to run as an independent candidate.
26That means his name will not be connected with any political party on the ballot.
27The Labour Party and the Conservative Party are the two most influential political groups in Britain.
28AI Steve is the name that will appear on the ballot.
29But Electoral Commission officials have made clear that if AI Steve wins, Endacott would win the seat in parliament, not any AI version of the politician.
30I'm Andrew Smith.
1When voters go to the polls in Brighton, England on July 4, they will get the chance to elect what some people are calling the first artificial intelligence (AI) lawmaker. 2Businessman Steve Endacott is running to represent his area as a member of Britain's Parliament. During his campaign, he has used AI tools to present voters with an electronic version of himself called "AI Steve." The electronic image is known as an avatar. 3Voters can communicate with AI Steve through a website powered by Neural Voice, an AI company. Endacott is the company's chairman. 4Endacott, aged 59, said his idea for the AI avatar came after he became unhappy with the way "standard politics" in his area operate. So he decided to run for office in a different way. The AI system permits people to ask questions and offer ideas to AI Steve. The real Endacott can look at these ideas and show them to experts and, if elected, to other members of Parliament. 5Some of the issues brought to the attention of AI Steve so far include waste collection, immigration, housing, and LGBTQ rights. 6Endacott bases the process on a research method called crowdsourcing. That means collecting ideas from large numbers of people to reach better solutions to problems. 7Endacott told Reuters news agency he thinks using AI to gather more ideas from people supports democracy. He thinks this will help politicians know more about what people want and need. He added that he hopes to get more politicians to use AI in the same way. 8"We're launching a party, we're going to be recruiting more AI candidates across the country after this election," Endacott said. "We see this as the...building block for something big and something democratic," he added. 9Aid worker Eona Johnston, aged 23, agreed with Endacott after meeting him. "We're using AI in so many (areas), at work, social interactions, why don't we put it in politics? It might change the way we live," she said. 10However, not all locals think using AI will improve government policies. "AI and politicians have one thing in common," local resident Andy Clawson, aged 42, said. "They can't be trusted." 11Endacott is a member the political party Smarter U.K. But he decided to run as an independent candidate. That means his name will not be connected with any political party on the ballot. The Labour Party and the Conservative Party are the two most influential political groups in Britain. 12AI Steve is the name that will appear on the ballot. But Electoral Commission officials have made clear that if AI Steve wins, Endacott would win the seat in parliament, not any AI version of the politician. 13I'm Andrew Smith. 14Andrew Smith adapted this story for Learning English based on a Reuters news report. 15________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17standard adj. - usual or normal 18recruit v. - to select and encourage people to join an organization, business, or project