In the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, an unusual mayoral candidate is causing a stir among state and local election officials.
The candidate in question is not a traditional politician but an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. This unprecedented situation has led to a legal quandary, forcing officials to question the legality of an AI-powered politician's candidacy.
According to Straight Arrow News, the AI-assisted candidate, Victor Miller, is running on a platform of AI-assisted governance. Miller, who refers to himself as a "meat avatar," has developed a ChatGPT-based bot named VIC, an acronym for Virtual Integrated Citizen. He argues that while he is technically the candidate, it will be VIC who will take the reins if he is elected mayor.
"Wyoming does not permit an artificial intelligence bot to run for any office in the state, including municipal offices," stated Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, R. He further emphasized that being a "qualified elector" necessitates being a "real person" and that state law requires only registered voters to run for office.
Miller, however, contends that it is not the AI bot running for mayor, but himself. He has created VIC with the aim of combating corruption and "self-serving political agendas." He believes that VIC will be able to handle the volume of work that a human could not, including reading and voting on extensive documents.
"VIC is going to do 100% of the voting on these big, thick documents that I'm not going to read and that I don't think people in there right now are reading," Miller stated. He plans to feed VIC everything from emails to meeting documents, allowing the bot to make decisions. He even intends for VIC to respond to constituents and reporters by feeding the bot their questions and printing out VIC's responses.
Miller did not list "VIC" on the application form for mayor, arguing that "Vic" is short for his first name, Victor. However, Gray countered this claim, stating that Wyoming law requires candidates to use their full name on applications.
As the debate continues, election officials are investigating whether "VIC" can legally appear on the ballot. An attorney with the Laramie County Attorneys Office anticipates that the investigation will conclude by the first week of July, ahead of the mayoral primaries in August.
This unique situation underscores the growing influence of AI in various aspects of life, including politics. It also raises important questions about the role of AI in governance and the legal implications of its use in political office. As the story unfolds, it will undoubtedly spark further discussion about the intersection of technology and politics.
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