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U.S. Mayoral Candidate Who Pledged to Govern by Customized AI Bot Loses Race

The Guardian

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Date Published
21 Aug 2024
Priority Score
2
Australian
No
Created
10 Mar 2025, 10:27 pm

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Victor Miller proposed customized ChatGPT bot to govern Cheyenne, Wyoming – but fared badly at the ballot box

Summary

The article highlights an unusual political event where Victor Miller, a mayoral candidate in Cheyenne, Wyoming, proposed governance through a customized AI bot, Vic. Despite the innovative pitch of using AI for data-driven governance, Miller's campaign garnered minimal support, collecting only 327 votes out of over 11,036 cast. This scenario underscores the challenges and public skepticism regarding the integration of AI into political decision-making, reflecting broader discourse on AI governance and ethical considerations. The article doesn't significantly advance the discussion on catastrophic AI risks or policy but touches on the evolving role of AI in public governance systems.

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Victor Miller received only 327 votes out of the 11,036 cast.Photograph: Richard Drew/APView image in fullscreenVictor Miller received only 327 votes out of the 11,036 cast.Photograph: Richard Drew/APThis article is more than6 months oldUS mayoral candidate who pledged to govern by customized AI bot loses raceThis article is more than 6 months oldVictor Miller proposed customized ChatGPT bot to govern Cheyenne, Wyoming – but fared badly at the ballot boxA mayoral candidate inWyomingwho proposed letting an artificial intelligence bot run the local government lost his race on Tuesday – by a lot.The candidate, Victor Miller, announced his run for mayor of Cheyenne earlier this year, and quicklymade headlinesafter he decided to run with his customized ChatGPT bot, named Vic (Virtual Integrated Citizen), and declared his intention to govern in a hybrid format, in what experts say was a first for US political campaigns.Before the election on Tuesday, the AI bot “told”Your Wyoming Linkthat its role in the government would be to provide data-driven insights and innovative solutions for Cheyenne, while Miller would serve as the official mayor if chosen by voters and would ensure that “all actions are legally and practically executed”.But ultimately, Miller and his bot only received327 votesout of the 11,036 cast.On Tuesday evening, Miller conceded the race, andsaidin a statement the campaign was not about him as a candidate, but rather it was about “offering voters a groundbreaking option: the chance to elect an AI that would make 100% of the decisions in office”.He added that his role was “merely as the necessary human interface to get this new form of intelligence on the ballot, since current laws don’t allow AI to run independently”.Despite his paltry showing at the ballot box, Miller said of his bot partnership: “The seeds of a revolution in governance have been planted, and they’re already beginning to sprout.”Explore more on these topicsWyomingChatGPTArtificial intelligence (AI)newsShareReuse this content