While millions of Americans are turning to chatbots or other AI-driven tech to help them in their day-to-day lives, they don’t necessarily trust their accuracy.
In fact, a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts shows two-thirds of Americans don’t trust AI tools to give them reliable and factual information.
It’s even more striking when it comes to politics: Nearly 40% of Americans who were polled say AI will make it “much more difficult” or “somewhat more difficult” to find accurate information about the election.
Americans are right to be cautious. A recent viral demonstration showed Amazon’s Alexa waxing eloquently when asked why someone should vote for Kamala Harris, but when asked the same question of Donald Trump, the digital assistant said only, “I cannot provide content that promotes a specific political party or a specific candidate.”
Alexa’s answer for Harris was quite specific: “While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a strong candidate with a proven track record of accomplishments,” the digital assistant offered, explaining she “has already broken down a major gender barrier and her career in politics has been characterized by a commitment to progressive ideals and a focus on helping disenfranchised communities.”
According to The Washington Post, a recent AI upgrade to Alexa caused the difference in her responses.