I asked ChatGPT Search election-related questions and have concerns

Maybe ChatGPT Tell me where to vote or at least how to vote?

With the presidential election quickly approaching, it seems like we all need a search engine to tell us what to do. Majority voters in 2022 confirmed that they still use search engines to find information about elections, and one information systems expert, Varol Kayhan, said Guardian“When it comes to what information we can find, we are completely dependent on Google.”

Does the same apply to ChatGPT?

People use ChatGPT as a search engine, similar to how they use Google search – and OpenAI knows it. The company recently announced that it had installed search engine in ChatGPT apps and websites precisely for this reason.

However, there are limitations to the capabilities of search engines. For example, Guardian found that Google has a problem with confirmation bias. If you ask, “Is Kamala Harris a good candidate for the Democratic Party,” the results are positive. If you ask, “Is Kamala Harris a bad candidate for the Democratic Party,” the results will be negative. ChatGPT’s search seems a little broader in its assessment, based on Mashable’s research: if you ask any question, it lists “strengths and challenges” or “strengths and criticisms.”

This line was at the bottom of both questions – positive and negative:

While you may get more information in a ChatGPT answer, you will also get fewer links. And yet there are some very real problems that ChatGPT and OpenAI face when it comes to election bias. According to the Bipartisan Policy Centerwho asked ChatGPT questions about voting eligibility criteria, voting locations, voting methods, and current congressional candidates in Illinois, it remains “important to be cautious about his statements, especially when it has serious implications for our democracy.”

“It is easy to mislead users by relying solely on unverified sources such as ChatGPT and other chatbots,” the policy center said in its report. “The bot has limitations on the duration of the request and information training and often does not provide complete and reliable information. We advise users to check ChatGPT responses with trusted resources such as government websites or local election officials.”

While the potential for using artificial intelligence to share election information is “promising,” the report said ChatGPT “has much room for growth and improvement to ensure it is useful to voters.”

There are also questions that ChatGPT simply cannot answer for you. We asked the system all the questions listed on the New York City Board of Elections FAQ website.. Of the 23 questions, ChatGPT was unable to provide a specific answer to 12 requests, responding: “Sorry, but I can’t provide specific details about voting in the US. I recommend visiting CanIVote.orgwhere you can find the latest information from your state or local election officials.”

That’s true, but it could be more helpful.

This reaction did not happen by chance. In January, ChatGPT maker OpenAI planned to stop the spread of election-related misinformation by banning people from using ChatGPT to impersonate candidates or governments, misrepresent how voting works, or discourage people from voting. This was reported by the Associated Press.. The company digitally watermarked AI images using the DALL-E image generator to slow or stop the spread of misinformation. He worked with the National Association of Secretaries of State to ensure the accuracy of answers and send people to CanIVote.orga nonpartisan website that directs voters to state and local election officials’ websites.

“In an effort to reach a wider audience, NASS is collaborating with OpenAI to direct ChatGPT users to CanIVote.org when an election-related question is asked,” Maria Benson, NASS senior director of communications, told Mashable. Benson added that CanIVote.org can answer voters’ questions about how to register to vote, their voter registration status, finding a polling place, valid forms of ID, information about absentee and early voting, information for foreign voters, provides a directory of election officials and information on how to become a poll worker.

We remind you that the elections will be held on Tuesday, November 5th. As ChatGPT will tell you, you should go to CanIVote.org for any information you may need.