A couple of weeks ago I got a call from Jessica Nix, a graduate of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University who is now a graduate student at Columbia University. While at GW Jessica took my political communication ethics class, and wanted to talk about ChatGPT, AI, ethics and political campaigns. I suggested she ask ChatGPT what it thought. While we were on the phone she typed in the question and several seconds later she got the below.
Peter Loge
Director
JN: What are the ethical implications of using ChatGPT in political campaigns?
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I am designed to be neutral and do not have opinions on political issues or specific political campaigns. However, I can provide a general answer to your question about the ethical implications of using AI language models such as ChatGPT in political campaigns.
The use of AI language models like ChatGPT in political campaigns can raise a number of ethical concerns. One concern is that the technology could be used to spread false information or propaganda to influence voters. AI language models can generate text that sounds human-like, which could be used to create fake news or fake social media accounts that could spread misinformation.
Another concern is that the use of AI language models in political campaigns could raise questions about the use of personal data and privacy. Political campaigns often collect large amounts of data on voters, such as their voting history, social media activity, and other personal information. This data could be used to train AI language models, which could then be used to target voters with specific messages and advertisements.
There is also the concern that the use of AI language models in political campaigns could create a biased or unfair advantage for certain candidates or political parties. For example, if one political campaign has access to a more advanced AI language model than another campaign, they could potentially use it to create more persuasive and convincing messages.
Overall, the ethical implications of using AI language models in political campaigns will depend on how the technology is used and the specific context in which it is applied. It is important for political campaigns to be transparent about their use of AI language models and to use the technology in ways that are ethical and responsible.