AI is meant to resolve our issues — and a cheeky new chatbot says Connie Chan is one in all them.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener launched a parody synthetic intelligence chatbot this week mocking his rival Chan, a San Francisco supervisor, escalating the bitter combat between the 2 Democrats in search of to succeed longtime Rep. Nancy Pelosi in Congress.
The web site ConnieChan.ai payments itself as “the world’s first AI skilled to say no to something you ask,” a knock on Chan’s popularity amongst critics as a progressive NIMBY who has opposed quite a few housing proposals.
Wiener’s marketing campaign, which raked in money this summer season after the candidate was chased out a trans march throughout Delight month, stated the chatbot was designed to capitalize on town’s booming AI craze whereas highlighting what it describes as Chan’s obstructionist file.
“No lies have been advised within the making of this AI chatbot. That is 100% Connie Chan’s file of blocking all progress in San Francisco, packaged in a simple to make use of device for voters,” stated Joe Arellano, a spokesman for Wiener’s marketing campaign.
“We created ConnieChan.ai to lean into the AI craze overtaking town and creatively attain voters with a product that stands out, highlights Connie’s lengthy file of obstruction, and lets us all do nothing … collectively.”
The launch comes as Wiener has more and more leaned into his function as one in all California’s main lawmakers on AI regulatory coverage.
“Scott wrote the landmark AI security legal guidelines serving because the mannequin for the remainder of the nation. He’s been occupied with staff and security and delivering on these points for years. He received’t be studying on the job like Supervisor Chan,” Arellano stated.
Chan’s marketing campaign, which has the endorsement of the retiring Pelosi, blasted the chatbot as racist and offensive to ladies, and accused Wiener of permitting the know-how to site visitors in offensive stereotypes.
“If there was ever any doubt that Scott Wiener is purchased and paid for by Large AI, he’s not even attempting to cover it anymore,” stated Ian Krager, a spokesperson for Chan, who was born in Hong Kong.
“We all know Wiener is determined for consideration, but it surely’s by no means a good suggestion for a person to place phrases in a girl’s mouth — particularly when they’re falsities fraught with racist and sexist undertones.”
Krager, who’s on hiatus from Pelosi’s workplace to assist Chan’s marketing campaign, additionally accused Wiener of cozying as much as company cash and Large AI as their “Sure Man.”
“On this marketing campaign, Connie will hold speaking in regards to the points that matter to San Franciscans: reducing prices for working households, standing as much as highly effective particular pursuits, and delivering outcomes for San Francisco,” Krager stated. “Voters deserve higher than the drained and trite slop Scott Wiener is providing.”
The change additionally renews scrutiny of Wiener’s ties to the AI business.
Earlier this yr, Public First Motion — an excellent PAC backed by AI firm Anthropic — entered the race and dedicated $500,000 to supporting Wiener, in response to Politico.
Wiener’s marketing campaign reported having greater than $1.2 million in money on the finish of June, in response to federal election filings, whereas Chan’s marketing campaign had simply over $362,000.
