A virtually unknown Democratic candidate defeated President Biden in a virtual campaign with the American Samoa caucus.
On a small Pacific island on Super Tuesday, Jason Palmer, 52, received just 51 votes to President Biden's 40, but he believes artificial intelligence contributed to his narrow victory. There is.
“I think one of the reasons I won was because I was technologically adept,” Palmer told the Wall Street Journal.
The Maryland native did not travel 7,000 miles from his home state to the island territory during the campaign, instead using an interactive artificial intelligence program to educate voters about his policies and experience. Questions were answered via text message or email.
He also introduced PalmerAI, an AI-powered avatar on his campaign website that looks like the candidate, talks like the candidate, blinks like the candidate and answers voter questions like the candidate. We adopted it.
Palmer also held remote town hall events, appearing via video call and speaking to voters by phone.
“I think people feel like I was there because I did these virtual meetings and used AI to interact with the participants,” Palmer said.
He also made sure to be open about the AI program when interacting with voters. All of his AI communications begin and end with a disclaimer.
The magazine said the avatar cost about $25,000 to create. Along with his other AI efforts, this program helped him turn his measly $5,000 spent on American Samoa into a primary victory over a sitting president.
“If we had millions of dollars to market to Colorado and Vermont, we might have been more competitive in those states,” Palmer told the Journal.
Mr. Palmer, an entrepreneur with extensive experience in the high-tech industry, has invested $500,000 of his own money into the campaign and has positioned himself as a candidate more responsive to 21st century realities than Joe Biden, 81. is positioned.
Mr Palmer won three delegates in his victory on the island of just 50,000 people. U.S. territories can vote in primaries, but do not elect representatives to the Electoral College.
To train the avatar on the website, Palmer visited a studio where he read a number of his speeches so the program could learn his language.
The program limits what the avatar can talk about, limiting it to Palmer's politics, but politely apologizes if a question goes beyond its capabilities.
Palmer acknowledges that AI can be dangerous, but he also believes it's an opportunity that could be revolutionary if approached safely (at least that's the case with his version of AI).
“AI can be a powerful tool if properly regulated,” PalmerAI told The Post. “It has the potential to enhance rather than eliminate work roles.”
“However, it is important to establish regulatory ethical frameworks and safety protocols to ensure the responsible and beneficial use of AI technologies.”