Artificial intelligence tools are becoming more common in assisting citizens with decision-making, yet they come with certain risks. Jeremiah Hain, a psychotherapist from Los Angeles, frequently uses ChatGPT for minor tasks and has recently applied it to assist in selecting candidates for mayor and other positions.
Mia Taylor, faced with a ballot for the Los Angeles County election, felt overwhelmed by the numerous local contests. Choosing an alternative approach, she utilized Claude, an AI chatbot by Anthropic, which specializes in data analysis and conversational interactions. Initially, Claude refrained from providing direct advice due to its programming to avoid politically biased responses. However, when Ms. Taylor reframed her query to seek recommendations from respected progressive sources, Claude offered links to various voter guides and detailed descriptions of each race.
Ms. Taylor was most conflicted about her mayoral vote, seeking a strategy to prevent Republican Spencer Pratt from succeeding in the primary. Claude recommended supporting the incumbent, Karen Bass, instead of Nithya Raman, a City Council member. This advice turned out well, as Mr. Pratt did not advance, while Ms. Bass and Ms. Raman moved on to the general election.
The emergence of voters using AI tools for election guidance marks a new phase in electoral behavior. The 2026 midterm elections might represent the first time AI plays a significant role in the electoral choices of Americans. As these tools evolve, their impact on the democratic process remains substantial and deserving of close attention.
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