Written by Alex Gunter (Guest Contributor)

I never normally write replies to newsletters, but last week Josef pushed me over the edge with his comment on Mark Sewards MP's "virtual MP" AI Chatbot. I was so mad I even made a LinkedIn post about it.

Labour MP Mark Sewards has launched “AI Mark,” the UK’s first virtual MP, a voice-cloned chatbot designed to let constituents ask questions and discuss policy 24/7. Built by Leeds start-up Neural Voice, it aims to complement in-person engagement.

But in last week's email, Josef asked: "Can AI truly replace personal interaction?"

Of course it can’t replace human interaction! Why would any politicians build something to do that? 

The wrong question about AI in politics

Across Europe, we're asking the wrong questions about AI in politics. It’s not here to replace human interaction. If anything, it's here to enhance it. In this case especially, it's here to replace emails and waiting lists. 

It can take up to 10 days for constituents to receive email responses from MPs on policy and community matters. It can take weeks to align diaries for a meeting. Even when they get a reply via email, it's probably been written by a member of staff, not the MP.

A "virtual MP" loaded up with all the policies and responses the MP wants to make, can help constituents get a reply instantly. And straight from Seward's own content that he has inputted.

And that is fantastic. People can still organise meetings, MPs can still knock on doors...they can probably do more without having to answer so many emails.

Sewards isn't going to hide behind an AI bot while he's doing surgeries, and how could a chatbot go door knocking?

And think how much quicker it will be for lobbyists to get MP's initial opinions on things…

AI strengthening democracy in practice

AI Chatbots are not the only place where AI if anything is boosting and improving human interactions in European politics. I see opportunities all the time in my work as a campaigns consultant, yet I’m endlessly met with unfounded fears. 

For example, I work with one team called Connexa who are finally cleaning up community WhatsApp groups with AI powered moderation tools, keeping the hate, anger and fake news out of organisation group chats far faster than human moderators can. (It can keep the Russians AI bots at bay too.)

And yet all we seem to talk about is how AI is empowering fake news and online hate.

I also see similar fears when I pitch AI-powered communication personalisation, clients worry it's 'deceptive'. Why must it be seen as a tool trying to trick people, when really it's all about engaging people with the political issues they care about, fundamentally increasing voter engagement & turnout? We all want more voter turnout. 

From fear to opportunity

It’s time to change how we think about politics and AI in Europe. Let’s end Project Fear and start asking what AI can do for us.

Alex Gunter, Director of Edina Communications, is a campaigns consultant focusing on the tactical side of message delivery, helping campaigns deliver their narratives to voters. Working with numerous political technology companies, Alex has worked on campaigns across Europe for the last 9 years.