image by Cyano66, from Istockphoto
AI Chatbot To Represent Congressman In Upcoming Debate
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Bentley Hensel created an AI chatbot, DonBot, for a debate with Don Beyer.
- DonBot simulates Beyer’s policy positions using his public statements and campaign materials.
- Legal experts say Beyer has limited options to stop the AI debate.
Bentley Hensel, an independent congressional candidate in Virginia, has created an AI chatbot, DonBot, to stand in for Democratic incumbent Don Beyer in an upcoming debate, should Beyer not appear, as reported today by Reuters .
Hensel’s move, reported today by Reuters, comes after Beyer declined additional debate invitations ahead of the November election. The debate is scheduled to stream online on October 17.
The AI chatbot, DonBot, is modeled after Beyer and was created without the congressman’s permission. The bot is trained on Beyer’s public statements, campaign material, and Federal Election Commission data, using an API from OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, notes Reuters.
According to Ruters, the bot is designed to simulate Beyer’s positions on policy issues without misleading voters. Hensel insists this modern-day “empty chair” tactic is necessary for transparency and to give voters access to Beyer’s stances, even if the congressman himself doesn’t show up.
The debate will feature Hensel, another independent candidate David Kennedy, against DonBot. Republican candidate Jerry Torres, who is also running for the seat, has not confirmed his participation. Should Torres not attend, Hensel has indicated he will create an AI version of him as well, according to Reuters.
A spokeswoman for Beyer confirmed that the congressman participated in a candidate forum in September but has no plans to attend the upcoming debate. She noted that Beyer has been a strong advocate for regulating AI, including preventing the technology from being used to spread election misinformation, noted Reuters.
Legal experts consulted by Reuters suggest that Beyer would have limited legal options to prevent the debate, as long as the AI likeness is not used for commercial purposes or to deceive voters, reported REuters.
Despite Beyer’s significant lead in the race, Hensel says the use of AI in the debate is a final effort to gain visibility and push for greater openness in the electoral process, noted Reuters.
The debate aims to attract attention in what’s otherwise considered a predictable race, given Beyer’s dominant position in the polls. Hensel and Kennedy acknowledge the unconventional move is both a publicity effort and an experiment in transparency.
Ultimately, this debate presents a case study in the evolving nature of political communication, as candidates navigate the challenges posed by technology and public expectations.
Hensel’s initiative could reshape how future campaigns approach debates and voter engagement, highlighting the potential for AI to either enhance transparency or introduce new complexities into the electoral process.
Image by Master1305, from Freepik
Google Rolls Out New Security Features To Protect Against Phone Theft
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Theft Detection Lock uses AI to lock the phone during theft attempts.
- Offline Device Lock activates when the phone is offline for an extended period.
- Remote Lock allows locking the device using only the phone number.
Google is introducing a new set of features designed to make it harder for thieves to access your data, according to a report from Mishaal Rahman, who shared the information on Reddit, as covered by The Verge .
Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock features— first announced in May —can detect if someone grabs your phone and tries to flee on foot, by bike, or in a car. If the AI determines it’s a real theft attempt, the phone will automatically lock, potentially preventing the thief from accessing your apps and data, said The Verge.
The standout feature among the new updates is Theft Detection Lock, which uses AI to lock your screen when it detects “typical theft-related motion,” such as someone grabbing your phone from your hand, notes The Verge.
Offline Device Lock secures the screen when the phone has been offline for some time, and Remote Lock allows users to lock their device using only their phone number if they can’t access Find My Device with their password, said the Verge.
However the Verge noted at the time of publishing that these features did not appear on Pixel 6 yet, but Rahman shared screenshots of the settings in a recent post on Threads.
Protecting smartphones goes beyond preventing theft—cyber criminals are constantly finding new ways to compromise your mobile banking information. In August, researchers from cybersecurity firm ESET uncovered new Android malware that can capture payment data from nearby phones with near-field communication (NFC) enabled, as noted by PCMag .
Google’s new security features represent a proactive approach to combating both physical theft. These new features offer users enhanced protection, underscoring the need for continued vigilance in safeguarding personal data.
