A phone-banking tool powered entirely by artificial intelligence is getting its first real-world test in a Pennsylvania Democrat’s congressional campaign. The breakthrough technology is an example of how AI tools are getting more use in politics ahead of the 2024 elections. The chatbot named Ashley from the startup company Civox calls voters and engages in two-way, interactive conversations about Democratic candidate Shamaine Daniels. In a test, the tool clearly and accurately answered questions about the candidate’s positions but got tripped up and shared false information in an off-topic conversation. Experts say its direct contact with voters could threaten data security and voter trust.
