Can ChatGPT tell you where to vote or even how to vote?

As the presidential election approaches, it seems we all need a search engine to tell us what to do. Most 2022 voters confirmed that they still use search engines to find electoral information, and an information systems expert, Varol Kayhan, said The guardian“We are at the mercy of Google as to what information we can find.”

Is it the same for ChatGPT?

People use ChatGPT as a search engine the same way they use Google Search – and OpenAI knows it. The company recently announced that it had implemented a search engine in ChatGPT apps and websites for this very reason.

However, there are limits to what search engines can offer. For example, The guardian discovered that Google has a confirmation bias problem. If you ask, “Is Kamala Harris a good Democratic candidate?” ”, the results will be positive. If you ask, “Is Kamala Harris a bad Democratic candidate?” ”, the results will be negative. ChatGPT Search appears to be a bit broader in its assessment based on Mashable’s research: if you ask either question, it lists “strengths and challenges” or “strengths and criticisms.”

This line was at the bottom of both questions – positive or negative:

Although you can get more information in ChatGPT’s answer, you also get fewer links. And ChatGPT and OpenAI still face very real problems when it comes to electoral bias. According to the Bipartisan Policy Centerwho asked ChatGPT about voting eligibility requirements, polling locations, voting methods and current congressional candidates in the state of Illinois, it is always “important to exercise discretion regarding one’s candidacies , particularly when there are significant implications for our democracy.”

“It’s easy to mislead users by relying solely on unconfirmed sources, such as ChatGPT and other chatbots, for answers,” the policy center report said. “The bot has limitations in sending length and information training and often does not respond with complete or consistent information. We advise users to verify ChatGPT responses with reliable resources such as government websites or their local election commissions.”

While the capabilities of using AI to share election information are “promising,” the report says there is “much room to develop and refine for ChatGPT to be useful to voters.”

There are also some questions that ChatGPT simply cannot answer for you. We asked all the questions to the system listed on the New York City Board of Elections FAQ website. Out of 23 questions, ChatGPT failed to provide a concrete answer to 12 requests, responding: “I’m sorry, but I can’t provide specific details about voting in the United States. I recommend you visit CanIVote.orgwhere you’ll find the latest information from your state or local election authority.

That’s true, but it could be more useful.

This kind of response did not happen by chance. In January, ChatGPT creator OpenAI planned to stop the spread of election-related misinformation by banning people from using ChatGPT to impersonate candidates or governments, misrepresent how voting works, or discourage people to vote. the Associated Press reported. It digitally watermarked the AI ​​images using its DALL-E image generator to slow or stop the spread of misinformation. He partnered with the National Association of Secretaries of State to ensure answers are accurate and send people to CanIVote.orga nonpartisan website that directs voters to the websites of state and local election officials.

“In an effort to reach a wider audience, NASS collaborated with OpenAI to direct ChatGPT users to CanIVote.org when an election-related question is asked,” Maria Benson, NASS senior director of communications, told Mashable. Benson added that CanIVote.org could answer voters’ questions about how to register to vote, their voter registration status, finding their polling location, valid IDs, information about voting by mail and in advance, information for foreign voters, provides a directory of election officials and gives information on how to vote. become an election agent.

As a reminder, the election will take place on Tuesday, November 5. As ChatGPT will tell you, you should go to CanIVote.org for any information you may need.