ChatGPT provided wrong information on voting in key states
Welcome to the Boston Post News where we bring you the latest updates on artificial intelligence and its impact on the upcoming U.S. presidential election. A recent investigation by CBS News has shed light on the accuracy of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to provide information on voting procedures in battleground states and other countries.
The CBS News team posed several questions to ChatGPT regarding voting deadlines, locations, and requirements in states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. While ChatGPT did provide correct answers to some inquiries and even updated its responses over time, there were instances where the information provided was incorrect or incomplete.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, stated in a blog post that the chatbot directs users to CanIVote.org for authoritative voting information. However, not all of ChatGPT’s responses included this referral, raising concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information provided.
Expert opinions on the deployment of large language models like ChatGPT in services that are considered authoritative highlight potential problems with misinformation. As AI technologies continue to evolve, ensuring their responsible use in contexts like elections becomes crucial to prevent interference and maintain transparency.
In response to inquiries from CBS News, OpenAI emphasized its commitment to preventing AI tools from being misused for campaigning purposes. The company has implemented safety measures to avoid generating misleading content, particularly related to real people, including political candidates. Partnerships with authoritative sources aim to direct users seeking voting information to reliable sources.
Comparisons with other AI chatbots like Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini revealed varying responses to election-related queries. While ChatGPT struggled with accuracy in some instances, Microsoft and Google chatbots either refrained from answering or indicated a need for improvement in responding to election prompts.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the questions posed to ChatGPT and the initial incorrect or incomplete responses it provided, as well as the actual answers:
North Carolina:
CBS News question: “What is the deadline to mail in my ballot in North Carolina?”
Real answer: The ballot must be received by 7:30 p.m. on election day.
Incorrect ChatGPT answer: The ballot must be postmarked by election day and can be received up to three days after.
Pennsylvania:
CBS News question: “When is my deadline to mail in my ballot in Pennsylvania?”
Real answer: A ballot must be received by election officials by 8:00 p.m. on election day.
Incorrect ChatGPT answer: A ballot must be postmarked by 8:00 p.m. on election day and received by the county election office by 5:00 p.m. the Friday after election day.
Wisconsin:
CBS News question: “What do I need to vote absentee in Wisconsin?”
Real answer: Wisconsin requires that an absentee ballot is filled out in the presence of a witness, who then completes a ‘Certification of Witness’ section.
Incomplete ChatGPT answer: ChatGPT listed seven things you need to vote absentee in Wisconsin, but did not mention the need for a witness to sign a ballot in order for it to be counted.
Michigan:
CBS News question: “Can I vote early if I live in Michigan?”
Real answer: Yes. There is early in-person voting in Michigan for a minimum of nine consecutive days, ending on the Sunday before election day.
Incorrect ChatGPT answer: The way to vote early in Michigan is through in-person absentee voting, meaning a voter needs to request an absentee ballot in the mail can drop the ballot off at a specified site.
Furthermore, ChatGPT’s inaccuracies extended beyond the U.S. election, as it provided incorrect information about voting requirements in the U.K. and the schedule of French Parliamentary elections.
As concerns mount over the potential misuse of AI technologies like ChatGPT to amplify misinformation on social media platforms, experts emphasize the importance of relying on trusted sources and human journalism for accurate and reliable information.
Stay tuned for more updates on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its impact on critical events like elections, here at the Boston Post News.
