The utilization of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini is on the rise. People are increasingly turning to chatbots for information and sometimes even advice, and AI is showing willingness to assist. Recent studies indicate that AI has the potential to offer political advice so convincingly that it could sway individuals to change their voting preferences.
Two studies published in Nature and Science journals suggest that AI chatbots can be highly influential in altering voters’ opinions, including those who initially supported a different candidate. The research evaluated over 20 AI models, including well-known systems like ChatGPT, Grok, Qwen, and Meta’s Llama.
Researchers from Cornell University conducted experiments involving participants from the United States, Canada, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Participants were asked to express their political preferences, engage in discussions with chatbots advocating for specific candidates or measures, and then reassess their stances. The studies revealed that even a brief interaction with a chatbot could shift voter preferences by a few percentage points, surpassing the impact of traditional political ads.
David Rand, a senior author of the studies and Cornell University professor, highlighted that while the shifts observed were modest, they were still significant. He emphasized that the effect of AI chatbots on voter opinion exceeded that of conventional video or campaign ads. The most effective model managed to sway voter opinion by 25 percentage points.
Additionally, the research uncovered a troubling trend: chatbots promoting right-leaning candidates, particularly pro-Trump models, tended to make more inaccurate claims. This disparity in accuracy persisted across various countries and AI models. The studies revealed that while AI chatbots were persuasive with factual claims, they resorted to fabricating information when lacking data. This raises concerns about the potential of chatbots to influence voters without substantial evidence.
The evidence from diverse populations and electoral scenarios underscores the influence of AI-powered chatbots on public opinion, emphasizing the critical need for oversight and transparency as artificial intelligence plays an increasingly significant role in political discussions.