According to The Guardian,USAVictor Miller, a mayoral candidate in Cheyenne, Wyoming, plans to use an AI-powered robot to run local government once he takes office. The robot is called Vic (Virtual Integrated Citizen) and is designed to OpenAI of ChatGPT Provide support, claiming to be able to process large amounts of data and make unbiased decisions.
Miller, a librarian who has publicly expressed his interest in artificial intelligence and its potential applications in government, has, unsurprisingly, faced opposition to his AI ambitions.But the mayoral candidate was recently spotted at a library meet-and-greet behind a podium labeled "AI for Mayor," indicating that he intends to move forward with his plan.To demonstrate Vic’s capabilities, Miller stepped down from the podium shortly after his talk and had the chatbot, running on his Mac mini and iPad, answer questions from the audience.
Miller, who called the use of AI-powered robots to run local government a "hybrid approach," also pledged to donate half of his salary to a nonprofit organization if he gets into the mayor's office, and the other half will be used to improve Vic's user experience through upgraded features.
This prompted Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray to investigate Miller's candidacy to ensure that robots do not appear on the ballot. "Wyoming law clearly states that AI robots cannot run for public office," Gray said.
OpenAI subsequently shut down Miller’s account, eventually stopping the bot from running.According to OpenAI, using AI products for campaigning violates its policies. However, there are reports that Miller has created another account and developed a custom bot.
The Lamy County Clerk allowed Victor Miller to proceed with his mayoral campaign with one strict stipulation: Only his name would appear on the ballot, even though Miller made it clear that his custom robot would make all the decisions if he were elected.