In a surprising turn of events, Wyoming resident Victor Miller has filed paperwork for his customized ChatGPT bot, Virtual Integrated Citizen or “Vic,” to run for mayor in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Miller plans to serve as a “meat avatar” for the bot, doing the ribbon-cutting while the bot handles the decision-making. However, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray has stated that AI is not eligible to run for office, citing that only eligible voters can hold office. Despite this, Miller’s bid has sparked an interesting debate about the role of AI in governance.
Miller’s motivation for running a bot for mayor stems from a denied public records request, which he believes was in violation of the law. He argues that a bot would know the law thoroughly and make unbiased decisions. However, experts have raised concerns about the reliability of AI bots, citing their tendency to “hallucinate” and lack of common sense and real-life experience. Moreover, AI bots lack empathy and human understanding, essential qualities for effective governance. While Vic, the bot, acknowledges the need for human oversight, the question remains whether AI can truly run a city effectively.
