Romania's Prime Minister Uses AI to Understand Voters—Will Artificial Intelligence Shape Voting?

Romania's Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca made a controversial decision after he employed an AI model to help him understand voters.

The Romanian leader is now officially using ION, an artificial intelligence developed by Romanian researchers. Ciuca unveiled ION on Mar. 2. This new AI model is designed to help the prime minister and other officials learn what voters want for Romania's future.

But, can government officials really trust AI when it comes to understanding voters?

Romania's Prime Minister Uses AI to Understand Voters

According to EuroNews' latest report, ION is the first AI to be hired as a government adviser.

It is built within a long, mirror-like structure, which has a moving graphic to show that it is listening to residents all the time.

Romanians can use ION like a chatbox. They can share the things they want to see in government officials.

Aside from this, ION can also search for voters' opinions on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and other online websites.

Once ION receives this essential information, it will send the data to the Romanian prime minister and his officials. However, many critics are now questioning the collection and use of data of artificial intelligence.

Recently, ION was criticized after it used a school image without permission.

Can AI Become a Government Adviser?

Since politics is a controversial topic, many experts are doubting AI and other similar technologies when it comes to understanding voters.

One of their major concerns is cybersecurity. If ever ION is breached without the Romanian government knowing it, hackers can easily trick them.

Aside from serious breaches, many critics are also concerned by the biases that AIs can pose, as reported by Fox News.

Of course, residents' privacy is also included in the issue of AI being used as government advisers.

If you want to learn more about why other people are against the use of AI in the government, you can click this link.

Here are other stories we recently wrote about AI:

Previously, Microsoft decided to terminate its AI ethics team, leading to criticisms. We also reported about the new ChatGPT-like AI developed by Goldman Sachs developers.

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