OpenAI Suspends Developer for Creating Chatbot Impersonating Democratic Presidential Candidate
2 min read
OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research laboratory, has taken decisive action against a developer who created a chatbot designed to impersonate Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips. The chatbot, named Dean.Bot, was developed by AI startup Delphi for the super PAC We Deserve Better, which supports Phillips’ campaign.
The chatbot did not outright pretend to be Phillips himself, but rather engaged with potential supporters and disseminated the candidate’s message. However, this use of OpenAI’s technology goes against the company’s policies. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the developer’s suspension in a statement to The Washington Post.
OpenAI’s blog post published just weeks prior to this incident outlined the measures the company is taking to prevent the misuse of its technology during the 2024 elections. The post specifically mentioned “chatbots impersonating candidates” as an example of what is not allowed.
The chatbot was initially designed to use ChatGPT, OpenAI’s popular large language model, but was later removed following the Washington Post’s inquiry. Delphi then kept the bot running with other open-source tools before ultimately taking it down altogether on Friday night once OpenAI intervened.
Visitors to the site are now greeted by a disclaimer for the chatbot, but the chatbot itself is no longer operational due to “technical difficulties.” Engadget reached out to OpenAI for comment.
This incident highlights the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines when utilizing advanced AI technologies. OpenAI’s swift action serves as a reminder that the use of AI for political campaigning and lobbying is not permitted.
The potential implications of such chatbots are vast, ranging from spreading misinformation to manipulating public opinion. It is crucial that companies and individuals using AI technology are aware of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them.
OpenAI’s commitment to preventing the misuse of its technology is commendable. The company’s actions demonstrate a responsible approach to the development and deployment of advanced AI systems.
