Campaigns text voters with AI chatbots ahead of midterms

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA Democrat running in West Virginia says he is personally pretty against AI, and his campaign now uses AI chatbots to text voters, CBS News reports.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThat's a candidate who knows his own limits and hired someone who doesn't. Automated outreach, delivered with a personal touch.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwenty-three thousand texts went out. About four hundred people wrote back, roughly one point seven percent.

4. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorFour hundred conversations, Hank. That's a packed town hall, and nobody had to find parking.

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo who is texting me about my car's extended warranty, and does it vote? Is the thing telling people it's a robot?

6. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHis does, at the start of every conversation. In most states there's no requirement to say so, which we'd call flexible transparency.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwenty-three thousand texts, four hundred replies, roughly one point seven percent. That's a better response rate than most junk mail, Vera, and at least the mail doesn't pretend to be a friend.