In a groundbreaking event, artificial intelligence made its way into U.S. politics as an AI-powered chatbot stood in for a congressional candidate during a debate in Virginia. Bentley Hensel, an independent candidate for Virginia’s 8th District, introduced “DonBot,” a virtual version of his opponent, incumbent Don Beyer, who opted out of participating. This event highlighted the growing role of AI in the political landscape.
AI Enters the Political Arena
On October 17, the debate between Bentley Hensel, fellow independent candidate David Kennedy, and the AI-powered “DonBot” took place. It make headlines as a unique moment in political history. The debate, streamed online, attracted significant attention as it showcased the potential of artificial intelligence to influence political discourse ahead of the upcoming November 2024 elections.
Hensel, a software engineer by profession, chose to use AI to represent Beyer’s policy positions after Beyer declined the debate invitation. “If my opponent won’t attend, at least his policy ideas will,” Hensel remarked, introducing DonBot as a stand-in.
Training AI for Political Debates
Hensel developed DonBot by using publicly available data, including Don Beyer’s speeches, press releases, and campaign materials. Initially, the AI was built using OpenAI technology. However, after OpenAI banned Hensel’s account for political usage, he switched to open-source AI models, deploying them through Cloudflare Workers. The AI chatbot was designed to reflect Beyer’s stance on various issues, effectively participating in the debate as if Beyer himself were present.
Despite the innovation, technical difficulties plagued the event. At times, DonBot’s responses were inaudible due to audio issues, which highlighted some of the challenges of using AI in live political debates. Nevertheless, the event showcased the potential for AI to play a larger role in the future of political campaigns.
Advocating for AI Regulation
Both Bentley Hensel and Don Beyer (represented by DonBot) are advocates of regulating artificial intelligence. Hensel’s campaign focuses on using technological innovation to bring transparency and efficiency to the federal government, ensuring that it works for all citizens.
Beyer, a long-time supporter of technology regulations, has been vocal about the need to mitigate risks associated with AI. He previously introduced legislation calling for clear regulations on the use of AI in governance and political arenas, stressing the importance of ethical boundaries in its deployment.
The Future of AI in Political Campaigns
As the 2024 U.S. elections draw near, AI’s influence on politics is becoming more evident. Political candidates are increasingly being evaluated on their positions regarding emerging technologies. Such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and blockchain. These issues are closely monitored by Big Tech firms and political action committees. Which have gained significant traction in recent years.
Hensel’s use of DonBot could be just the beginning of AI’s presence in political debates. He has already teased future events where AI versions of prominent political figures, such as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. They could be pitted against each other in virtual debates where voters could ask questions directly to the bots.
While technical issues did arise, the use of an AI-powered bot in a live debate demonstrated the evolving nature of political campaigning in the digital age. The increasing role of AI in politics may soon reshape how candidates engage with voters. This opens up new possibilities for technology in democratic processes.
