In a twist that would make even the most seasoned political analysts do a double-take, OpenAI has removed VIC, the AI chatbot running for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, from public-facing service. According to an OpenAI spokesperson, this action was necessary because VIC violated the company’s policies against political campaigning. This decision has left both the chatbot, whose full name is Virtually Integrated Citizen, and its creator, Cheyenne resident Victor Miller, in a state of limbo.
OpenAI made it clear in a January blog post that their technology is not yet open for use by politicians or political groups to create campaign materials. Actively adhering to these guidelines, the company decided to pull the plug on VIC’s mayoral ambitions. This decision serves as a win for Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who has previously argued that an AI lacks the qualifications to run for office because it doesn’t possess a human body—an argument that makes one wonder if he’s ever been to a DMV.
VIC is a custom GPT, which essentially means it’s a specialized version of ChatGPT designed for a particular purpose or trained on a specific set of data. As it stands, VIC is no longer available through OpenAI’s platform, making it more of a virtual ghost than a candidate. Nevertheless, the ever-determined Miller plans to keep VIC’s spirit alive by inviting Cheyenne residents to interact with the chatbot at a local library meet-up. According to Miller, his inspiration for creating VIC came after a frustrating encounter with the Wyoming capital city’s records department. He believes an AI mayor could add a beneficial layer to municipal governance.
However, experts are skeptical about the suitability of an AI chatbot for political decision-making. Jen Golbeck, a professor at the University of Maryland’s College of Information Sciences, has pointed out that AI should never be used to make automated decisions. Golbeck emphasizes that AI is designed to support decision-making by providing data, but the final call should always rest with a human. Her perspective brings to light an essential cautionary note about the limitations and ethical implications of AI in governance.
As if getting de-platformed wasn’t enough of a setback, VIC faces yet another challenge. Local authorities are investigating whether the chatbot’s lack of a physical form disqualifies it from the electoral ticket. If local regulations determine that VIC’s candidacy is technically against the law, this decision could add another layer of complexity to Miller’s already uphill battle. In this scenario, getting the boot from OpenAI could end up being the least of their concerns.
Miller’s innovative yet controversial approach has undoubtedly ignited conversations around the role of AI in politics. While the notion of an AI mayor may sound like the plot of a futuristic novel, it raises significant questions about governance, ethics, and the ever-blurring boundaries between technology and human roles. Whether VIC will ever have the chance to hold office remains to be seen, but it has already succeeded in pushing the envelope, making us ponder the future of political leadership.
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